By Chloe Horswill
Paul Grayson has replaced Richard Pyrah as new head coach of the Yorkshire Diamonds ahead of the Kia Super League season.
Grayson has signed a contract that will keep him with the team until the end of 2019, while also keeping his position as the coach of Durham MCC University.
Yorkshire Diamonds are delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Grayson as Head Coach. #ShineBright💎
📰 : https://t.co/ypjW8UCLo2 pic.twitter.com/8CkvGkTqmH— Northern Diamonds💎 (@North_Diamonds) February 3, 2017
The new appointment stems from Pyrah leaving his position to step up to help the first-team men’s squad alongside current coach Andrew Gale.
On his new position, Grayson said: “The opportunity to work with an elite female team is really exciting for me and a role which gives me a fantastic opportunity to use my first-class coaching experience.”
Everyone at the club is hoping that Grayson can turn the team’s form around after a poor run out last season that only saw them win one of their five games and put up a stronger fight in the season ahead.
Diamonds general director Jane Hildreth is confident they have appointed the right man.
Speaking to The Press, York, she said: “Paul will take the Yorkshire Diamonds forward and build a team who will be challenging for the title in 2017.
“Paul has a wealth of experience in the game having had a successful coaching career with Essex and Durham University.”
The appointment sees Grayson back at Headingley, where he spent six years as a player between 1990 and 1995 before he moved to Essex to take on the position of head coach for eight years.
The Diamonds’ first game under Grayson will be played against Lancashire Thunder on Friday August 11 in Headingley.