Colin Graves has announced that he will take on a new role of Yorkshire’s executive chairman with immediate effect.

Graves, the county’s current chairman, will take on the responsibilities of chief executive, a position unfilled since Stewart Regan left for a similar role at the Scottish Football Association in 2010.

He has resigned from his post of chairman at the supermarket chain Costcutter after selling his shares last November. It was a business he had built up from scratch in 1986.

“I sold my shares last November and I’ve resigned as chairman of Costcutter,” he said.

“It’s time for me to leave that business and look for pastures new. This Yorkshire role has come up at the right time.”

Yorkshire’s players are currently being frustrated by rain at Scarborough as they search for County Championship victory over Leicestershire.

Steve Patterson struck in the 4.1 overs possible on day three, getting Jacques Du Toit caught at cover by Joe Sayers off a leading edge, to leave the score at 8-2 in their second innings.

Leicester have since moved to 12-2, still trailing by 319 runs.