Read Middlesex County Cricket Club’s statement confirming the departure of Richard Johnson as first-team coach, with immediate effect. The decision follows an unprecedented streak of misses well below the bar the club had set for itself.
Johnson has led Middlesex since the very beginning of the 2022 season. He initially took over the lead role on an interim basis in 2018 before being appointed full-time, building on his prior experience as an assistant coach under Richard Scott. In his first season under Johnson’s guidance, Middlesex achieved promotion from Division Two of the County Championship. The club hit the skids in 2023, going down at the first hurdle.
As for the present, Middlesex are languishing in sixth place of the County Championship, with three losses in their first seven games. The team has had a disappointing start to the T20 Blast, winning only three of their first six games. All of that has contributed to their current position of seventh place in the very tough South Group.
Alan Coleman, Middlesex’s director of cricket, acknowledged Johnson’s dedication to the role. He stated, “Jono has put his heart and soul into the role and we thank him for all his hard work.” Coleman further emphasized the high expectations placed on the current squad, noting, “Ultimately cricket is a performance business, and we do not feel that the results this season have matched the expectations that we have for the team at our disposal.”
Although they finished as third-tier champions last term, that metronomic form has not converted into white-ball success for Middlesex. Under Johnson, the team has missed out on the knockout stage of both tournaments.
At 50 years of age, Johnson has completed his work at Middlesex. Now, he and the club are well-positioned to turn in a vastly different direction. Middlesex is committed to going in a new direction and turning their luck around. Under fresh leadership, they hope to regain their footing and one day soon become a power again in both disciplines of the sport.
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