Following last month’s announcement of a restructuring of Middlesex’s Men’s Cricket department, which saw Alan Coleman take on the position of Head of Men’s Performance Cricket, the Club today made two further appointments to its coaching team.
Rory Coutts, formerly Head of the Club’s Youth Cricket department, is announced as Middlesex’s new Club Coach, whilst Mark Lane, formerly the Club’s Assistant Head of Youth Cricket, will become the Club’s Interim Head of Youth Cricket.
Coutts and Lane have built a strong working relationship with Coleman through their previous roles at the Club, and both, with Coleman, have played an important hand in overseeing the career development of many of Middlesex’s current First, Second and Academy teams’ playing staff.
The Club are still to announce one further appointment to the Men’s coaching team, with external interviews currently taking place for the vacant First Eleven Head Coach’s role. The Club hope to be able to make an announcement on this appointment in the near future when the recruitment process concludes.
Coutts, 40, has worked his way through Middlesex’s coaching ranks, having initially started at the Club as one of Middlesex’s Cricket Development Officers almost a decade and a half ago. He has since been instrumental in ensuring the successful delivery of the Club’s strategy to develop young, home-grown players through the Youth system, into the Academy, and ultimately into the Men’s professional playing ranks, which currently boasts over seventy percent of home-grown players. Coutts will report directly to the Head of Men’s Performance Cricket.
Lane, 53, has an impressive coaching track record, having previously led England Women to both ICC World Cup and ICC World T20 trophies in 2009. He has worked within Middlesex’s Youth system since 2014 and takes on the Interim Head of Youth Cricket role immediately, providing stability and continuity for the Youth programme, with Coutts stepping up to the Club Coaches role. Lane will report directly to the Head of Men’s Performance Cricket.
Speaking of both coaching appointments, Head of Men’s Performance Cricket, Alan Coleman, said:
“I’m delighted that Rory has accepted our offer of moving to work full time with the professional squad as our Club Coach. He is an exceptional coach, well respected and trusted by the players and is able to get the very best out of them. He will bring a real love of the game to our coaching team and will no doubt work tirelessly to help us improve our on-field fortunes.
“In Mark we are lucky to have such an experienced coach to guide the Youth Cricket programme through its next exciting phase. He has been able to add to his vast achievements in the International Women’s game by having real success in helping us develop an exciting group of young players, many of whom are already on professional contracts, with no doubt many to follow.
“Both Mark and Rory are two major pieces of our coaching jigsaw, and with the appointment of our First Team Coach following soon our players are in very capable hands.”
On being appointed the new Middlesex Club Coach, Coutts commented:
“I am grateful for the opportunity and excited to start in the role of Club Coach at Middlesex.
“This is a great Club and one that I have been lucky enough to be part of for the last 14 years.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working in the Academy/Youth programme for the last 10 years and want to thank all the Youth staff for their support over the years.
“This is an exciting time for the club and I’m looking forward to working with the players, Alan and the soon to be appointed First XI Coach to be ready for the new season and the challenges that lie ahead.”
On taking the Interim Head of Youth Cricket role, Lane added:
“I am really proud to have been offered the role of Interim Head Coach of our Youth Cricket programme and Rory has left a fantastic programme in our hands, with some great young cricketers coming through. I have a great support team around me and am really excited about what this current group of young players can achieve, and I am really pleased to be able to continue to contribute to the future of Middlesex Cricket.”
