Thursday 9 June 2016 08:51, UK
Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie could find himself in conflict with the team's sponsors, Wensleydale Creamery, after reaffirming his hostility towards the dairy industry.
The Headingley club have a shirt deal with the Hawes-based creamery, with the 41-year-old Australian continuing to express his dismay over the treatment of animals.
Gillespie has been first-team coach at Yorkshire for four and a half years and refuses to waver from his vegan principles.
I hope one day the dairy industry can be shut down.
In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, he acknowledged who the county's sponsors are but added he would not tone down his comments regarding animal welfare.
He said: "My wife and I often talk about it, because she's vegan as well.
"I feel like I'm looking through eyes without blinkers on. We treat animals badly, we really do, and in my opinion there's no justification for that.
"It's cruel and it's speciesism at its very worst, and I don't want to be part of it. I hope one day the dairy industry can be shut down.
"I think it's disgusting and wrong on so many levels."
As for the team's sponsors, whose logo appears on team shirts, he went on: "It's out of my control, just like the fact that cricket balls are made of leather.
"I'll have it out with people, I don't care. There's nothing wrong with standing up for what you believe in."
A spokesperson from Wensleydale Creamery said: "That's a very bold statement and I need to understand a bit more about what he's actually trying to say there.
"We are very proud sponsors. Our milk comes from over 40 local farms with very high standards of welfare."
