Davidson says there is a 'looming crisis' at the county

Leicestershire chairman Neil Davidson has resigned after a public falling out with county captain Matthew Hoggard.

In August, Hoggard and then Foxes' coach Tim Boon signed a letter calling for Davidson's removal.

Davidson demanded Hoggard remove his name from the letter and when he failed to do so by a 4 October deadline imposed by the chairman, he quit.

In a parting shot he blamed Hoggard's "irresponsible behaviour" for the "chaos which has engulfed the club".

Davidson's resignation is the latest act in a drama which has already seen the departure of both Boon and former chief executive David Smith.

Smith quit the club - citing differences of opinion with Davidson - in June and Boon left Grace Road last month.

606: DEBATE What is your reaction to Neil Davidson's resignation?

Hoggard and Boon wrote to the Leicestershire board in August requesting Davidson's removal because of what they saw as his interference in team affairs.

Davidson refused to go but subsequently, on 20 September, he informed the county's board that if Hoggard did not remove his name within 14 days he would leave.

When Hoggard refused to do so, Davidson, who had been chairman of Leicestershire for seven years, said his position had become "untenable".

In a statement he said he "couldn't understand" Hoggard's actions.

"Had [Hoggard] not put his name to those letters in the first place - which, if he had thought it through properly, I believe he would not have done - then the current crisis at the club could have been avoided," insisted Davidson.

In the statement, he went on to claim the county is on the brink of a financial crisis caused by poor performances on and off the pitch.

The club are to hold a board meeting next week and say a formal statement will be issued at that time.

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