Richard Scott, head coach at Middlesex County Cricket Club has left the club.

The surprise decision will see assistant coach Richard Johnson assume responsibility for running the first team for the remaining seven County Championship matches of the 2018 season.

Daniel Vettori is set to again fulfil the position of head coach during the Vitality T20 Blast which starts on Thursday at Lord’s against London rivals Surrey after doing last last summer.

Scott took over as head coach of Middlesex CCC in 2009. While in charge he oversaw the club winning Division Two of the County Championship in 2011 and the County Championship in 2016.

During his time in the position, seven players – Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Sam Robson, Dawid Malan, Toby Roland-Jones, Tim Murtagh and Paul Stirling – made Test debuts with many more selected for England Lions duty.

Middlesex managing director of cricket, Angus Fraser, said: “We’d like to thank Richard for all he’s given the club during the past 10 years.

“He’s been a loyal, hard-working, committed and high-quality coach.

“As with every coach in professional sport we have shared highs and lows but to play a leading role in a side winning the County Championship is a triumph very few coaches can claim.

“Under his guidance more than a dozen cricketers have gone on to gain international recognition.”

Middlesex have struggled in Division 2 of the County Championship after their unfortunate relegation from the top tier in 2017 – only a year after their dramatic last-gasp victory over Yorkshire at Lord’s to claim the county title for the first time in 23 years on the last ball of the season.

The club sit fifth in the table on 64 points after their comprehensive 342 run defeat by Kent – 36 points behind leaders Warwickshire.

Fraser confirmed the process to recruit a new head coach for next summer has begun.