TOBY RADFORD is leaving his position as Cricket Ireland National Academy and Performance Manager citing family reasons.

Radford, who took over the role at the start of August, said: “It has been a very difficult decision for me to make. For family reasons, I feel I have no alternative but to move back to the UK to be with them.

“In my short time in this role with Cricket Ireland I have been very grateful for the positive attitudes, warm welcome and generosity of all the staff and players.

“I have written a new Academy template and Programme for next year’s Cricket Ireland Shapoorji Pallonji Academy intake, and would have dearly loved to be here to implement it.”

“I wish Cricket Ireland every success with its continued drive for attaining ICC Full Member and Test Match status.”

Cricket Ireland Performance Director Richard Holdsworth commented: "We are naturally very disappointed to be losing Toby so quickly. Fortunately it is a quieter period of the year where most players are resting after the season.

"Clearly our experience in the few months of recruitment for this position has been a challenge, particularly in relocating. We shall look at the position again and have an in-depth review of our human resources around the Shapoorji Pallonji Academy in order to get to the right outcome."