ECB Vice President Martin Darlow is due to step down in May

The deputy chairman of the ECB, Martin Darlow, will step down from the governing council in May before the end of his term as the fallout from the racism process in Yorkshire continues.

The former detective, who only took up the role last September, was tasked with managing the ECB’s response to the Yorkshire crisis following Azeem Rafiq’s seismic appearance before a select parliamentary committee in November 2021.

The 18 first-class counties were informed of Darlow’s early departure by ECB President Richard Thompson earlier today, with several sources telling Sportsmail that he had paid the price for the governing body’s clumsy handling of the crisis.

Yorkshire President Lord Patel has claimed the ECB ordered him to lay off 16 staff, costing the county £1.5m in compensation payments.

That claim has been strenuously denied by multiple sources at the ECB, but they are also facing questions over their decision to charge seven former Yorkshire players with using racist language against Rafiq.

Darlow controversially invited Azeem Rafiq to Lords as guest of honor just days after ex-Yorkshire players faced disciplinary action

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was among those charged last summer

Darlow served as acting chair of the ECB when those disciplinary charges against Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan were filed last summer before Thompson arrived from Surrey as chair in September.

During a short reign as interim chairman, Darlow sparked controversy for inviting Rafiq to be the guest of honor in the ECB’s box at Lord’s for the first day of England’s test match against New Zealand last summer, just days after the ex- Yorkshire players had been charged.

Another former acting chairman, Barry O’Brien, will also step down from the board this summer due to ill health.