Mark Wallace appointed as director of cricket

Former Glamorgan captain Mark Wallace has been appointed as the club’s new director of cricket.

The 37-year-old will succeed Hugh Morris, who left the role to concentrate on his position as chief executive at the club.

Wallace, who has worked for the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) since retiring following the 2016 season will start his new role on 1st February 2019.

The wicketkeeper batsman spent 18 years in the first team and captained Glamorgan from 2013 to 2015, playing 264 first-class games. During his career he amassed 15,429 runs over all forms including 17 centuries and took 944 catches.

He was elected as the PCA’s chairman in 2013 and was re-appointed to serve a second two-year term before taking up a permanent position with the organisation after his retirement as a player.

Wallace is also an ECB Level 4 qualified coach, has a Master’s Degree in Sport, Culture and Society from Cardiff Metropolitan University and has worked in both written and broadcast media.

New director of cricket, Mark Wallace, said: “I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to come back to Glamorgan and I’m looking forward to working with a young squad of players and alongside a talented coaching team.

“However, it won’t just be a question of working closely with the first team. We need to ensure we maximise all our resources and that means improving Welsh cricket in general and developing closer relationships with the clubs and Cardiff MCCU.

“I’m extremely grateful to the PCA for everything they’ve done for me and the past two years has been a brilliant learning experience within a high quality organisation. 

“Having spent a few years outside of Glamorgan, I believe I can come into the club with new ideas and a fresh perspective to lead the club in the right direction.”

Glamorgan chairman, Gareth Williams, said: “Mark was the standout candidate for the position following a rigorous recruitment process which brought interest from around the globe.

“We were looking for someone who could lead cricket activities, recruitment, contracts, players and our development programmes, and also work closely with local clubs and universities and he ticked all those boxes.

“He has an in-depth knowledge of both the club and professional game in Wales and the culture within Glamorgan having spent years here as a player and captain.

“Through his work with the PCA he has gained experience outside Glamorgan and developed positive relationships with players and coaches across the country.

“He is a fantastic communicator as shown by his time here as captain and his broadcast work and he is a passionate Welshman who has always had the best interests of the club at heart.

“We’re very confident he will drive Glamorgan forward and help bring success to the club both on and off the pitch.”