Richard Pybus re-appointed Titans coach

Richard Pybus, the former Pakistan and Middlesex coach, has been re-appointed as the coach of the Titans. Pybus has signed a two-year contract with the Titans after resigning as Middlesex coach.

Pybus was the Titans coach before he signed a three-year contract with Middlesex in February. Incidentally, he quit Middlesex on the same day that the Titans announced that they had not found a replacement for him and that they were re-advertising for the role, leaving Middlesex supporters in no doubt that he was heading back.

"The re-appointment of Richard follows a protracted and comprehensive process during which a number of high profile applicants were considered," the chairman of the Titans' board of directors, Andy O Connor, said. "The position was offered to an individual in June 2007 only [for Titans] to be informed at number 99 that he could no longer accept the position. This resulted in a second round of interviews in July.

"Richard's resignation at Middlesex came as a complete surprise to the franchise and his reasons for his resignation, cited as personal, were completely unrelated to the vacancy. Upon learning that Richard was returning to South Africa, the franchise expressed a keenness to re-appoint him."

Pybus also said that he was "delighted" to be back with the Titans and that there was "much work to be done to maintain the fine form shown in the four-day competition and to improve the side's performance in the one-day and Pro20 competition."