Harmison and Hoggard are former England colleagues

Steve Harmison believes his former England colleague Matthew Hoggard has been treated badly by Yorkshire after he was released by the club.

The 32-year-old seam bowler was controversially let go at the end of the season after 15 years at the club.

"For him to have to leave Yorkshire is a disgrace," Harmison told BBC Sport.

"Here is a lad who has done well and been a great ambassador and now he needs Yorkshire a bit he has been binned and pushed aside."

Hoggard claimed that Yorkshire let him go for financial reasons but the county said the player rejected an "extremely competitive" offer at the start of the season - a claim Hoggard has disputed.

He was Yorkshire's leading wicket-taker in the County Championship last season and has been offered a three-year deal by Leicestershire.

But Harmison, 31, who has been at Durham since 1996, says he is on the verge of extending his stay at the Riverside.

"We've seen players like Darren Gough leaving Yorkshire in the past but personally I'm fortunate that Durham are such a good club," he said.

"I'm in the process of signing a long-term contract with them and hopefully I've a few years to give back to them what they deserve and that is winning more championships."

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