YORKSHIRE County Cricket Club chief executive Chris Hassell sprang a surprise today by announcing that he will retire from the post on his 60th birthday in November.

Hassell, the longest serving chief executive in county cricket, joined Yorkshire in 1991 after spending 13 years with Lancashire.

Before that, he was closely involved in soccer, starting out with Crystal Palace where he became the youngest secretary in the Football League when he took up the appointment in 1963.

He then had spells as secretary at Everton and Preston and was assistant secretary of Arsenal before joining Lancashire.

While he was at Old Trafford, Lancashire won the Benson & Hedges Cup, the NatWest Trophy and the Sunday League - and he was overjoyed when Yorkshire became County Champions last season to complete the full set of major honours by the two clubs he had served.

The office staff at Headingley were informed of Hassell's impending retirement at today after he had talked over his decision with Yorkshire chairman, Keith Moss.

Updated: 11:46 Wednesday, March 27, 2002