Former Nottingham Forest chief executive Mark Arthur is under strong pressure to resign from his role at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Chairman Roger Hutton quit today (Friday) after Yorkshire lost sponsors and the right to host international games in the wake of their response to Azeem Rafiq's allegations of racism.
In a statement, Hutton was critical of Arthur, the chief executive, and other senior staff members who remain in post, while Yorkshire's leadership has been widely condemned across the game.
“I would like to take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly to Azeem,” Hutton said. “I am sorry that we could not persuade executive members of the board to recognise the gravity of the situation and show care and contrition.
“I want to be clear that when I was made aware of Azeem Rafiq’s allegations, I immediately reached out to the ECB to ask for their help and intervention to support a robust inquiry. I was saddened when they declined to help as I felt it was a matter of great importance for the game as a whole.
“It is a matter of record that I have continually expressed my frustration at the ECB’s reluctance to act. There has been a constant unwillingness from the executive members of the board and senior management at the club to apologise, and to accept that there was racism, and to look forward. For much of my time at the club, I experienced a culture that refuses to accept change or challenge.
“During my time as chairman, I take responsibility for failing to persuade them to take appropriate and timely action. This frustration has been shared by all of the nonexecutive members of the board, some of whom have also now resigned.”
An independent report previously found spinner Rafiq had been the victim of "racial harassment and bullying" at the club.
Arthur spent 14 years at CEO at Forest before taking up the same post with Yorkshire in 2014.
He was chief executive at Trent Bridge for two years until his move to the City Ground.
