RICHARD DAWSON has left his position as Yorkshire’s second XI coach to take on the head coach’s job at former county Gloucestershire.

Dawson returns to Bristol, where he left only last year to replace New Zealander John Bracewell, meaning the White Rose are searching for their third second-team coach since December 2013.

The former Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and England off-spinner starts his new role at Nevil Road next week.

“This is my first head coach role, so I know it will be tough, but I am looking forward to the challenge,” said Dawson, 34-years-old, who spent five years at Gloucester as a player and on the coaching staff.

Dawson steps up to top coaching role Tykes second XI boss returns to Gloucestershire “During my time with Yorkshire, I was fortunate to work with some outstanding coaches, players and backroom staff. I learned a lot from them, and look forward to putting that into practice at Gloucestershire.

“We have a good young squad here, and my aim will be to help them compete in all competitions.

“We will be working hard every day to try to make the small improvements that will bring us success on the field.”

Paul Farbrace initially left Yorkshire in December 2013 to join Sri Lanka before Dawson took over last February.

“This has only just happened, so we’ve got a few discussions going on at the minute regarding what we are going to do next,” said White Rose director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon.

“At the moment, it’s new and we haven’t got a decision that has been made.

“It’s not an ideal situation. I’d like a bit of consistency with the second-team job, I must admit.

“Farby for a couple of years and Richard one is not great, but it’s been unavoidable really I think.

“Thankfully, it hasn’t adversely affected the players massively, but I would like a bit stability.”

Meanwhile, Colin Graves has taken a significant step closer to becoming the ECB’s new chairman having been put forward as the only nomination for the role by the 18 counties and the MCC.

The Yorkshire chairman, who will need to be replaced at Headingley, is set to take over English cricket’s top job from Giles Clarke on May 15.

Graves will now need to be elected by the 41 members of the ECB - the county chairmen, the chairmen of the county boards in non-first-class counties, the chairmen of the Minor Counties and the chairman of the MCC.

The final result will be known by the end of February, but Graves’ appointment is virtually certain already.

He said: “I am most grateful and honoured to have been nominated by the first-class counties and the MCC for the role of ECB chairman.

“I am especially grateful to Chris Grant of Derbyshire for proposing me and to Clive Leach of Durham and Norman Gascoigne of Warwickshire for seconding me.”