Derbyshire part company with coach John Morris

Ex-England batsman Morris took over as Derbyshire coach in August 2007

Derbyshire have parted company with their county coach John Morris, with immediate effect - halfway through a County Championship game.

After deciding not to renew his existing contract beyond the end of this season, Morris and his assistant Andy Brown have been released.

"After careful consideration, it's been decided not to renew their contracts," said Derbyshire chairman Chris Grant.

"Both will be released from performing their duties immediately."

Derbyshire, who finished bottom of the pile in the County Championship last season, have so far won one of this season's four games to lie seventh.

And they hold an 85-run advantage over Essex halfway through their current game at the County Ground.

But they are going well in the CB40, in which they sit top of Group A, having won three of their first four games.

Following the departure of Morris and Brown, the county's first team affairs will be run by a collective for the rest of the summer involving captain Luke Sutton and three former players, academy director Karl Krikken, bowling coach Steffan Jones and committee member Tony Borrington.

"They will oversee the running of the first team for the remainder of the season," added Grant.

"The positions of our physiotherapist James Pipe, strength & conditioning coach Luke Storey and second XI coach AJ Harris are unaffected."

Morris, 47, who spent 11 years as a player with Derbyshire from 1982 to 1993, played three Tests and eight one-day internationals for England.

He was in his fourth season in charge, having been appointed as the club's head of cricket in August 2007.