CRISIS club Lancashire have been rocked by a fresh off-field blow with the departure of chief executive John Bower.

And now it appears that batsman Jason Gallian will be following Bower and Chairman Bob Bennett out of Old Trafford.

Bower, who was appointed the club's first chief executive in 1991, has helped to transform Old Trafford with the development of the new pavilion frontage and indoor school.

But out of the blue late yesterday Bennett, who is quitting himself at the end of the season because of his England commitments, issued a one sentence statement reading: "It has been amicably agreed between John Bower and Lancashire that John will leave the club at the end of this month."

Bower, 52, has no other job lined up and, although he has refused to comment on his departure, he must have been unhappy with the direction of the club. And other senior club officials maintained the wall of silence at Old Trafford.

Bower's departure adds to the sense of turmoil surrounding Lancashire at the end of a disappointing season.

They also need to find a new treasurer with Derek Peaker retiring next February while on the playing side there is uncertainty over the future of both Gallian and Wasim Akram.

Wasim was unhappy when news leaked out of Lancashire's approach to Shane Warne, although the club now insist that no offer will be made to Warne until Wasim receives another specialists report on his shoulder injury next week. And it is looking increasingly likely that Gallian, whose contract with Lancashire is up this year, will now leave Old Trafford.

Lancashire have been talking with the former England opener about a new deal on and off for weeks but so far there is no agreement - leaving Middlesex the favourites to sign him.

Dav Whatmore's men were back in championship action against Yorkshire at Old Trafford today with Nathan Wood coming in for Mike Atherton, Gary Yates replacing Darren Shadford and Richard Green making his second appearance of the season.

Yorks were 8-0 off 4 overs when rain stopped play.

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