Hoggard left Yorkshire at the end of the 2009 season

Leicestershire have distanced themselves from critical comments made by former chairman Neil Davidson about club captain Matthew Hoggard.

Davidson resigned this week and branded ex-England star Hoggard "irresponsible" for refusing to backtrack on his call for Davidson to step down.

It follows a much-publicised summer of turmoil at Grace Road which has also seen head coach Tim Boon quit.

A statement read: "It's unfair to place any blame on the captain and players."

Davidson's resignation was the latest act in a series of off-pitch dramas that has already seen the departure of both Boon and former chief executive David Smith as well as a great deal of in-house squabbling at Grace Road.

The statement continued: "The off-field problems can be traced back to the resignation of the chief executive [David Smith].

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"Matthew Hoggard has had an excellent first season, has taken 50 Championship wickets and has grown into the captaincy as the season progressed.

"Matthew is highly respected within the dressing room and he and all the players have the full support of the board.

"The county is now ideally placed to capitalise on the excellent work undertaken by Tim Boon and our outstanding coaching staff.

"Negotiations are well advanced with those players out of contract and we expect to make announcements shortly.

"Whilst the board recognises the positive contribution Neil Davidson has made during his seven years as chairman, it now wishes to put recent events in the past and get on with the job of addressing the day-to-day running of the club."

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