Ottis Gibson to Depart Yorkshire at Season's End

Yorkshire has announced that Ottis Gibson will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of this season.

Gibson, who joined Yorkshire in early 2022 on a three-year deal following Andrew Gale's dismissal amid the fallout from Azeem Rafiq's allegations of institutional racism at the club, has navigated the team through a challenging period.

In a statement, Yorkshire praised Gibson for his "total professionalism" during what they described as "the most difficult period of Yorkshire's history." Despite mixed results on the pitch, the team is currently third in Division Two of the County Championship and in contention for promotion, with five matches remaining.

The club emphasised their commitment to their goal, stating, "The club is in a strong position in the County Championship, contending for promotion to the first division, and all players and coaches remain firmly focused on that aim. Ottis goes with everybody's best wishes, and everyone at the club wishes him well in his future career."

Yorkshire also mentioned that the search for Gibson's successor has begun, with the announcement of the new head coach to be made "in due course." Darren Lehmann and Chris Silverwood are among the names linked to the position.

Reflecting on his tenure, Gibson said he was pleased with the squad's progress and development of younger players despite off-field issues impacting the team. He expressed gratitude to his staff, players, and supporters, wishing Yorkshire the best for the future.

Colin Graves, Yorkshire's chair, commended Gibson's efforts, stating, "It's been an absolute pleasure to work with Ottis. The work that Ottis has done in really difficult circumstances has been impressive, and he'll leave with his head held high, having helped build some solid foundations, which we are seeing with performances this season. Everyone at the club would like to wish him all the best for the future."