KENT have parted company with youth coach Chris Stone after seven years with the county cricket club.

Stone moved to St Lawrence in 1999 as cricket master as Tonbridge School and replaced former Kent skipper Alan Ealham as the club’s 2nd XI coach.

A renown expert on batting techniques, Stone has carried out a number of duties during his time with Kent and was the coach Ed Smith, David Fulton and Rob Key usually went to for technical advice.

Stone has spent the last three seasons streamlining the Kent Youth set up, ensuring each of the county’s age groups sides had their own manager and coach.

With his work now complete, Stone will head back to teaching in South Africa and his former school in Port Elizabeth.

In explaining this parting of the ways, the club’s chief executive Paul Millman said: "Over the last three years we have taken on six youth coaches at various age groups and launched the academy, so the reality is, there is no longer a role of youth coach.

"In this case evolution has resulted in the outcome and Chris goes with our best wishes. We certainly hope to see him back here next summer as there are dozens of kids across the county as well as a few first team players who would value having him around for advice.

"During his time here Chris set himself and his players the highest standards and gave an outstanding level of commitment to everything asked of him."