Paul Nixon relieved of duties as Leicestershire head coach

Paul Nixon has been relieved of his duties by Leicestershire and is unlikely to return to his position as head coach.

Nixon, 52, had spent almost six years in the role, but has now been placed on gardening leave, the club have confirmed to ESPNcricinfo.

Leicestershire had started the season well and sit third in Division Two ahead of the resumption of the County Championship this weekend. One of their two wins out of seven - there have been four draws - was a first victory at Headingley since 1910.

However, they have since won just two Vitality Blast matches out of 11, and sit bottom of the North Group.

The news comes after it was confirmed that three first-team players will leave Grace Road at the end of the season. Seamer Chris Wright is heading to Sussex on a two-year deal, while left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson has signed with Durham for three years.

Colin Ackermann, a former club captain who is the Foxes' all-time leading T20 run-scorer, is also expected to join Parkinson at Chester-le-Street. More departures are expected.

Claude Henderson, who returned to the club as director of cricket in 2021 to work with Nixon, is likely to oversee first-team duties until the end of the season with the help of assistant coach Alfonso Thomas.

ESPNcricinfo has approached Nixon for comment.