Taylor paid the price for the team's poor season in the four-day game

Batsman Taylor, 29, became Championship skipper in 2004, with Mark Alleyne leading the one-day side, but they suffered double relegation last season.

"I'm yet to have a formal meeting with them so this has caught me by surprise.

"We had a very poor season. There are a number of things we need to do to but I am not happy that one of those is to relieve me of the captaincy," he said.

"To suggest that my captaincy of the Championship side is the key contributing factor to the club's poor results this year is disappointing and unfair.

"I believe I have been let down by the management structure of the club and given little support."

Taylor missed a large chunk of last season with a shoulder problem which required surgery.

I will put this behind me and move on - I am Gloucestershire through and through and have always given everything Chris Taylor

New Zealander Craig Spearman stood in but neither he nor Alleyne could prevent the team dropping down into the second tier in the four-day competition and the National League.

Lewis, 30, will take over both teams, with all-rounder Alex Gidman his deputy, but it remains to be seen how many games he is available for if he is again called up to England's one-day squad.

He played three times in the summer series involving Australia and Bangladesh, but was overlooked for the tour of Pakistan.

Taylor is backing him to do a good job and insists he remains committed to the club despite their decision to relieve him of his duties.

"Jon is a quality cricketer with international experience and I have no doubt that he will lead us in the right direction," he added.

"I will put this experience behind me and move on. I am Gloucestershire through and through and have always given everything when representing my county.