GORDON Hollins, chief executive of Somerset County Cricket Club, is to leave early next year.

Mr Hollins has informed the club he will be stepping down in March and will be relocating to York to be closer to his family.

He has been at the Cooper Associates Ground for the past four years following a 12-year stint as ECB managing director of county cricket.

He said: "There is a lot more to do before I leave and I am totally committed to completing the strategy for the next five years, progressing our ground development plan and providing further support to Western Storm over the next few months."

He added: "I will take with me some precious memories of which the team on and off the field should be proud."