EXCLUSIVE
rebuild
Darren Gough lays out vision for Yorkshire in wake of Azeem Rafiq racism storm as Steve Harmison bids emotional farewell to talkSPORT colleague
Darren Gough laid out his vision for Yorkshire County Cricket Club after the talkSPORT legend was named managing director of cricket.
The former England fast bowler takes over at the helm of the club during an incredibly turbulent time in its history.
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Their handling of Azeem Rafiq's experiences racism and harassment were widely criticised and led to chairman Roger Hutton and chief executive Mark Arthur standing down.
On Friday, 16 members of the coaching and medical staff were dismissed, including first-team coach Andrew Gale and director of cricket Martyn Moxon.
Gough was under no illusions of the magnitude of the task before him, with his initial contract until the end of the 2022 season, but laid out what he wants to achieve.
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The Drivetime host told talkSPORT following his return to Yorkshire: “We have to face these issues, make positive actions. That’s going to be the biggest thing we are looking at.
“We will be watched by the sporting world, not just in this country but around the world. We have to make a difference and I think that is obvious.
“We have to take everyone at Yorkshire, no matter where they are from, on a journey, engage them, listen to them and I know this is such a big job because of that. I really, really do.
“We do need to rebuild. We need to rebuild a culture and make Yorkshire County Cricket Club a better, more inclusive place.
“That’s what it comes down to. It’s quite obvious and that’s what I see the vision for the club at this moment in time.”
One of Goughie's first tasks will be to appoint a new coach and staff for the first team ahead of the new season.
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He added: “I know on social media and in some media that the favourite for the job is someone else at another club.
“That said person is a terrific coach, but we have to go through the right process. There will be an interview panel, there will be people interviewed.
“There are some magnificent coaches out there who are not in work at this moment in time, some are.
“Some will fancy this challenge. For whoever takes it, it will be a difficult challenge. There will be a lot of changes and that’s why I took the job.
“It’s such a big rebuilding job. The club have come out and admitted it. You’ve heard me come out on talkSPORT and say that everything that went on with Azeem Rafiq and other members were handled badly.
“That was the biggest thing. It was handled badly and the club have recognised that. It’s so important.”
Steve Harmison was delighted to see Gough land the job, but admitted he was devastated to see him leave talkSPORT.
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He said: “My initial thoughts were ‘are you out of your mind taking that on?’ That will be one of the toughest jobs not only in cricket but sport.
“We’ve seen the headlines, but the more I’ve thought about it - he is potentially the only person who could bring that club together.
“The nature of who Darren is, the person he is, the affection he has for people and what people have got for him - the first thing was to get the dressing room back on because a lot of players had run for the hills because of 16 members of staff had been finished.
“He's been given the job until 2022, but this is a five-year job, a 10-year job for Darren. He has to look at it that way. Yorkshire aren’t coming back any time soon.
“They can’t, it’s not possible.
“I’m devastated he’s leaving talkSPORT because he’s worked 12/13 years to convince everybody not just that he knows a lot about football, but he’s brilliant at the station. I’m devastated he’s not going to be on here, but sometimes your heart leads you in a place you have to go.
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“That’s where Darren has gone and I’m over the moon for him. I’ll do anything for him if he ever needed a hand.
"There were countless numbers of messages to Darren yesterday that said if you ever need a hand, just pick the phone up. That’s what Darren Gough does.”
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