Simon Cook has resigned from his position as Kent’s director of cricket immediately following the club’s successful return to Division One of the County Championship. In a statement, Cook indicated his intention to pursue a return to coaching, describing it as his “greatest passion” and expressing interest in securing a “more hands-on role”.
Cook will participate in the recruitment and handover process for his successor. Kent’s management acknowledged their disappointment at losing Cook but expressed full respect for his decision. Reflecting on his tenure, Cook stated, “Leading the cricket department at Kent has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club and am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together across the men’s game, women’s game and talent pathway.”
“It has also been a privilege to be a part of the professional squad’s development. They are exceptionally talented and entering the prime years of their careers, which will allow them to enjoy a strong period of success… The club is now in a position to move beyond simply competing and to expect to challenge for honours across all formats.”
Cook has not yet secured his next position. “While I don’t yet know exactly what the next chapter will look like, I’m excited by the opportunities that may lie ahead,” he added. “I leave with enormous pride in what has been achieved and look forward to seeing many more Kent players go on to represent both Kent and England in the future.”
Alongside Cook, Lucy Arman, Kent’s head of women’s cricket, has also announced her departure. Competing in the semi-professional Tier Two of the women’s county structure, Kent concluded the season in third place in the T20 Blast and reached the semi-finals of the One-Day Cup. The club praised Arman for her “tireless” efforts over two years to elevate standards.
“The first two years of Tier Two cricket have certainly been a rollercoaster of emotions, but they have also provided a huge amount of learning for everyone,” Arman commented. “I am particularly proud of the foundations we have built across the Kent Women’s team and talent pathway.”
Michael Wilshaw, Kent’s chief executive, emphasized the substantial impact of both departures: “Both Simon and Lucy have worked extremely hard and achieved significant accomplishments to create a long-lasting strategy for both Kent men’s and women’s cricket that will benefit the club in the long term.
“We fully respect their decisions, and will work closely with both of them to ensure a smooth transition as we head into 2027. It is a significant change for us, and new leadership in our professional cricket department will have a strong foundation to build from as we plan ahead for the future, thanks to them.”