ANDY Nash is to retire as chairman of Somerset County Cricket Club after 10 years in the position, to be replaced by Charles Clark, as he takes up a role at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

It is the latest change in the Somerset hierarchy this year, with Guy Lavender giving way to Lee Cooper as chief executive, and Matt Maynard departing as director of cricket, with Adam Hurry and Jason Kerr coming in.

Nash, who will step down at the 2018 club AGM in January, said: "I've been in the post of chairman since September 2007, which is a rather long spell at the crease, so it's time I retired out and allowed someone else the opportunity to serve this special club.

"With the CEOs handover between Guy Lavender and Lee Cooper smoothly implemented over the summer and key changes to our cricket management structure achieved at the end of the season, along with some outstanding issues concerning our County Championship Division 1 status also satisfactorily resolved, now is the right time to plan the next change on the bridge.

“At the AGM I shall be formally handing over to Charles Clark, who has served the Club for over six years on the General Committee and is therefore very well qualified and able to assume the chair with a seamless transition.

"He is a man of integrity, experience and great humour, an essential prerequisite for any county chairman, and he will prove to be a very popular and effective leader."

Nash added: "It has been my absolute privilege and honour to represent Somerset County Cricket Club and to have worked with so many outstanding and committed people.

“I may be leaving Somerset but I will still be involved in this great game as a director of the ECB, and I look forward to continuing to serve in that capacity."

Clark received a unanimous endorsement at a recent meeting of the club's General Committee, to replace Nash from January.

Clark said: "Andy has served the club with enormous distinction for 14 years, initially as vice chairman and then for 10 years as chairman.

"He has led with calm assurance, sound business reasoning and, when appropriate, considerable flair.

"He leaves the Cooper Associates County Ground now a proven venue capable of hosting International Cricket and eagerly anticipating World Cup matches in 2019.

"The club’s finances have been consistently positive under his stewardship and membership remains the envy of many larger clubs.

"Somerset have now been in Division 1 of the Specsavers County Championship for 10 successive seasons, longer than any other First Class county.

"Our Academy and training systems continue to provide much home grown talent to delight our supporters and to challenge for international honours - most latterly the Overtons, Jack Leach and Dom Bess.

“For a while under Andy, Taunton was the home of women’s cricket and Western Storm have flourished as the women’s game moves into the spotlight.

“His record is one which any cricket administrator should be justly proud.

"Andy deserves his senior position at the ECB, where we wish him every success and we look forward to seeing him, his wife Linda and his family at the County Ground as frequently as his schedule allows."