Hampshire cricket Club are advertising for a new chief executive - even though they already have one in place.

Current chief executive, the long-serving Tony Baker (pictured left), has had his job advertised in a national Sunday paper by headhunters Price WaterhouseCoopers with an unspecified salary.

Former accountant Baker, 61, refused to comment on the issue. He has held his position for 14 years but Hampshire chairman Brian Ford was quick to try and douse any embarrassing flames on the eve of the county's move to their £17m new Rose Bowl ground in West End in time for next season.

He denied Baker was under threat of the axe as he said: "No-one is being fired or losing their jobs. This is just the first step in restructuring the club for when we move."

What that means is that Baker will be forced to share command of the club with a new chief executive, whose brief will be to raise revenue from non-cricketing sources.

Baker's silence might say exactly what he thinks of having his own position advertised so publicly but Ford insisted that all was in order.

He added: "Tony is due to retire in three or four years and we are just looking for a commercial chief executive to take over responsibility for activities other than cricket.

"The new ground has a golf course and will have a fitness centre and banqueting and conference facilities. We need to get the best out of those."

"Tony still has an important job to do over the next few months to get us moved. And he will continue to take full responsibility for the cricket side of the club."

Hampshire left The County Ground in Northlands Road in Southampton - their headquarters for 115 years - at the end of the summer to prepare for their relocation.

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