Former Kent all-rounder and current Chairman of Cricket Graham Johnson has been announced as club president for 2014.

Johnson will assume the position at the Club’s AGM on April 2 after being nominated by outgoing president Bob ‘the Cat’ Bevan at a meeting of the Past Presidents of the Club.

Mr Bevan MBE: said: “Graham was a stand out candidate to become President given almost a half a century of service to the Club as a player and official. He will continue, as he has always been, to be an excellent ambassador for Kent.”

Beckenham-born Johnson made his First Class debut for the county in 1965 and a mainstay of Kent’s successful 1970s side.

He played 376 First Class matches for Kent - scoring 12,509 runs including 11 hundreds and 13 half-centuries - and took 560 wickets.

Johnson also played more than 300 one-day games - scoring 5,666 runs and taking 104 wickets - and was capped in 1970 and became Chairman of Cricket in 2004.

Mr Johnson said: “I have seen first hand, over many years, the delight shown by past Kent Presidents in their appointment and the way they have enjoyed their year in office. That has been particularly evident in ‘the year of the Cat.’

“I particularly appreciate having been his nomination for President and to hear his reasoning for that nomination - it is a great honour.

“I want to be a hands-on President, hence my desire to combine the role of President with the work of continuing to build the foundations for the future of our club.

“This is a very positive time for the Club, it having emerged stronger and better-equipped through the challenges of the recent past.

“To be President in a year which builds on recent achievements is hugely pleasing.”