Matt Rawnsley: Worcestershire appoint former spinner as chief executive

Matt Rawnsley will leave his role as MD of an industrial and aerospace components manufacturer to return to New Road

Worcestershire have appointed former spinner Matt Rawnsley as their new chief executive.

The 41-year-old, who played at New Road between 1996 and 2002, will replace Tom Scott in the role on 1 March.

Rawnsley will help the county look for a new head coach following Steve Rhodes' departure in December.

"Matt inherits an exciting team and a club well set to continue to grow - on and off the pitch," said Worcestershire chairman Stephen Taylor.

"We believe Matt is the right man for the CEO post. He brings very relevant commercial experience, as well as strong cricket experience as a former player of the club."

He is the second former player to take the role, following in the footsteps of his former team-mate David Leatherdale, who had the role until March 2016, before leaving to become chief executive of the Professional Cricketers Association.

He was replaced by Scott who initially announced four months ago his intention to quit at the end of 2017, but is now to stop on for two more months.

Matt Rawnsley took 74 wickets in 46 first-class matches for Worcestershire, as well as playing in 54 List A games

After finishing his first-class cricket career, Rawnsley played Minor Counties cricket for Herefordshire, while also continuing to turn out for Barnt Green in the Birmingham League.

He packed in at the end of the 2006 season, but returned to Birmingham League cricket in 2015 after a nine-year absence for a further three seasons with Ombersley, playing alongside current Worcestershire first-team players Brett D'Oliveira and Ben Cox.

Birmingham-born Rawnsley, who still lives in Worcestershire, worked in various sales roles in the construction industry before becoming managing director of the Barnes Group, manufacturer of industrial and aerospace components, in 2013.

Promoted Worcestershire start their 2018 County Championship Division One campaign on 13 April with an away game against Hampshire.