Essex Women’s inaugural season as a Tier 1 professional side has been dealt an unexpected twist, with head coach Andy Tennant stepping down from his role less than a year into the project. Tennant, appointed last winter with the task of steering Essex’s first fully professional women’s team, departs with a track record of five victories across all competitions.
Former England opening batter Jason Gallian, currently chair of Essex’s cricket committee, will oversee the side for the closing weeks of a challenging first campaign. The club will begin its research for a permanent successor in the off-season.
For Tennant, the decision comes during the mid-season break for The Hundred, a natural point for reflection. “With the break in the fixtures for the Hundred, it has been an opportunity for both the club and myself to reflect and look ahead to next season,” he said. “Following those conversations, it feels like now is the right time to step aside and seek my next opportunity.
“I am proud of what we have achieved together as a group, and I would like to thank Essex for giving me the opportunity to continue the job we started with the Sunrisers three years ago. I wish the club well, and I am confident this outstanding group of young female athletes will continue to develop and go from strength to strength.”
Tennant joined Essex after previously shaping the direction of the Sunrisers, where he worked closely with performance director Danni Warren. Together, they oversaw a transformative period in the regional structure, culminating in the Sunrisers’ Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title in 2024. The transition from regional cricket to Essex’s Tier 1 programme was always likely to bring new challenges, and Tennant played a key role in laying those foundations.
Warren, who continues in her capacity as Essex Women’s performance director, praised Tennant’s contribution. “I have built a strong working relationship with Andy since he joined the Sunrisers in 2022, which culminated in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy triumph during our final season in 2024,” she said.
“The transition of the group to Essex has been an exciting challenge, and Andy’s hard work in ensuring this process was as seamless as possible has been hugely important to the progress we have made on and off the field. He should be proud of what he has achieved during his time at the club, which has also included many individuals starring in this year’s Hundred competition and representing their country at an international level. We all wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavours within the game.”
While Essex’s first season at this level has not been without its growing pains, the squad’s core of emerging talent, several of whom have already been recognised on the domestic and international stage, stands as testament to the progress under Tennant’s tenure. The focus now shifts to Gallian, who will guide the side through its remaining fixtures before the club turns the page on a pivotal first chapter and identifies the figurehead to lead Essex Women into 2026.
(Quotes sourced from Espn Cricinfo)
