Summary:
Lancashire have announced that one of their longest-serving and most successful servants has left the club.

Full article:
Mike Watkinson has stepped down as Lancashire's cricket director. Watkinson leaves the club in the wake of their relegation to the second division of the LV= County Championship, having spent 32 years with the Red Rose in various capacities. The former England all-rounder, 53, both played for and captained Lancashire before becoming cricket manager in 2002 and, for the last five years, the county's cricket director. Mike Watkinson (left), shares a laugh with Andrew Flintoff last season, his final year of 32 at Lancashire . Watkinson said in a statement he was 'looking forward to a new challenge' after calling time on his Old Trafford career . Lancashire chairman Michael Cairns OBE added: 'I would like to place on record our sincere gratitude to Mike Watkinson for his long-term service of Lancashire County Cricket Club as player, captain, cricket manager and cricket director. 'On behalf of everybody connected with LCCC I would like to wish Mike well with his future endeavours.' Watkinson pictured outside the old pavilion at Old Trafford in 2007 .