Glamorgan Cricket’s Matthew Maynard MBE has decided to step down from his role as Head Coach of the County Championship team at the end of the current season.
Maynard returned to the club as Head Coach in 2019 on an interim basis before taking up the role permanently at the end of that season.
In those five years, Maynard has overseen an upturn in the club’s fortunes, especially in four-day cricket, with the club narrowly missing out on promotion to Division One of the LV= Insurance County Championship last season.
Having led as coach in all formats, the North Walian switched roles to focus on red-ball cricket for the 2023 season.
Previous to taking up a career in coaching, Maynard enjoyed a glittering career with the club scoring 35,466 runs in 754 1st XI appearances across all formats with a club record 69 centuries. He was involved in four trophy winning sides in the 1990s and early 2000s, and memorably captained the club to the County Championship in 1997. He was capped 18 times by England, with 4 Test and 14 One Day International appearances.
Maynard retired in 2005 to take up an Assistant Coaching role with England and, then between his two spells at Glamorgan, the first as Director of Cricket, coached the Titans in South Africa, St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League and was Director of Cricket at Somerset.
He was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list for services to sport and charity.
Maynard said:
“It’s been five years since I returned to Glamorgan as Head Coach and now just feels like the right time for me to step down.
“I’ve enjoyed working with the players and staff immensely and feel like the culture that has been fostered within the group has the ability to grow into something special. There is some talent within the squad and I look forward to watching the players develop in the years to come.
“I still love coaching and have a passion for working with players, and after a bit of time off – and doing my charity walk - I’ll start looking at what fresh challenges are out there for me moving forward.
“Glamorgan will always be my club and I wish everyone involved the very best of luck for the future.”
Director of Cricket, Mark Wallace commented:
“There are very few more recognisable and influential figures associated with Glamorgan Cricket than Matthew Maynard and his input as Head Coach over his two terms in the role has been significant. He has a fantastic ability to connect with players and his inspiring leadership both as player and coach has left an indelible mark on the fabric of the club which will be felt for many years to come.
“Personally, and on behalf of everyone involved with the club, I would like to thank Matthew for his unrivalled impact at Glamorgan over the years and wish him the very best for his future endeavours.
“Though Matthew is stepping down as Head Coach, we are hopeful of retaining his expertise at Glamorgan in some capacity moving forward as we continue to try and develop players in Wales to the best of their abilities.”
Chief Executive Hugh Morris added:
“Matthew Maynard is one of the most outstanding cricketers Glamorgan County Cricket Club has ever produced. His passion and commitment to the Club on and off the field for nearly 40 years has been second to none.”
“Matt should feel enormously proud of his remarkable achievements and most notably becoming only the third Glamorgan captain behind Wilf Wooller and Tony Lewis to win the County Championship.”
“It was a pleasure to play and work with Matt and, on behalf of the club, I would like to thank him for his exceptional service and wish him well for the future.”