Andy Tennant has resigned as head coach of Essex Women, drawing a line under a tenure that lasted barely ten months and yielded five victories across all formats. The former Scotland coach was handed the job last winter when Essex secured Tier 1 status in the revamped women’s county structure. Jason Gallian, currently chair of the club’s cricket committee, will guide the squad through the remaining fixtures while the search for a long-term replacement begins.
Essex’s results have been blunt. One win and eight defeats in the 50-over Metro Bank Cup left them out of the knockout picture, while a penultimate-place finish in the Vitality Blast group summed up their T20 struggles. A County Cup exit to Tier 2 Yorkshire added to the sense that transition has been tougher than many inside Chelmsford expected.
“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,” Tennant 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’s reference to Sunrisers is key. He guided the regional side to the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy last summer, yet a core of that victorious squad has struggled to replicate form in county colours. A heavier championship workload, more travel, and the early-season absence of Hundred-contracted players have all played a part, according to back-room voices.
Performance director Danni Warren, who moved across with Tennant from Sunrisers, praised her departing colleague. “I have built a strong working relationship with Andy since he joined the Sunrisers in 2022, which culminated in the Rachel 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 international level. We all wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavours within the game.”
Gallian, the former England opener, is expected to keep things simple. The immediate aim is twofold: restore confidence before the campaign closes and shape a clear brief for whoever takes charge permanently. Essex will start formal interviews once the season ends, giving them a winter to bed in fresh ideas before the 2026 programme – which will again feature the 50-over Cup and the short-form Blast – kicks off.
Tennant’s exit is another reminder of how quickly expectations have risen inside women’s domestic cricket. Professional contracts bring opportunity, but also the hard maths of wins and losses. Essex now have a month to show potential candidates that the foundations are sound, even if this first attempt at Tier 1 has proved bumpier than hoped.
