Tuesday 27 December 2016 12:23, UK
Lancashire have agreed to release head coach Ashley Giles from his contract so he can return to Warwickshire.
The former England spinner's Old Trafford contract was due to end in 2018, but Lancashire have confirmed that they are allowing him to leave so he can be closer to his family.
Giles becomes Sports Director at Warwickshire, where he made his name as a player and then Director of Cricket. He left in 2012 to become England's one-day coach before joining Lancashire in 2014.
Warwickshire chief executive Neil Snowball said: "Ashley has enjoyed great success as a coach and Director of Cricket and this new expanded role will allow him to apply his experience and expertise across the organisation and to develop the Warwickshire and Birmingham Bears teams at all levels."
In a statement Lancashire said: "Over the last 12 months the board and staff at Lancashire County Cricket Club have supported Ashley and his family during a difficult period due to the time Ashley's role has kept him away from his wife and family.
"In the last few weeks Warwickshire County Cricket Club has made an approach to the Chairman of LCCC to ascertain the availability of Ashley Giles.
"After lengthy discussions the board has agreed to give further support to Ashley's personal circumstances and has given him permission to discuss a move to his home county in the best interests of his family."
Giles said: "This has been one of the most difficult decisions of my cricketing career. I would like to thank everyone at Emirates Old Trafford for their support over the last two years and wish them well for the coming year.
"Lancashire County Cricket Club has fantastic people on and off the playing field. I would also like to personally thank Michael Cairns, Paul Allott and the whole board for their professional and caring management over the last few weeks. My family and I will not forget this."
Giles steered Lancashire to Division One and the NatWest T20 Blast trophy in 2015.
Former captain Jim Troughton took the first-team coach job at Edgbaston earlier this month, and he will report to Giles in the new regime.
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