Yorkshire County Cricket Club have issued a firm rebuttal to suggestions former staff have been approached about returning to the club.

National newspaper The Times published an article yesterday morning claiming that some staff who were sacked in the aftermath of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal could be in line to rejoin the payroll at Headingley.

It was suggested that this possibility has arisen following the departure of Darren Gough, who left his managing director of cricket role at the club earlier this week, having been in that post since December 2021.

But Yorkshire insist Gough's exit does not mean a return for ex-staff in the pipeline.

A statement from The Yorkshire County Cricket Club yesterday evening read: "Contrary to media reports this morning, The Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) strongly refutes claims made that former employees from the coaching staff have been approached with a view to returning to the club.

"No one at YCCC has spoken to any former coaching staff about potential roles at the club.

"As with any elite level sports club, the need for review (after Gough's departure) is commonplace, but with the season fast approaching we do not envisage any more changes.

"The appointment of any club roles will always be subject to transparent, fair, and merit-based recruitment and selection process, as is best practice and club policy."