Surrey dismiss Adams and Salisbury

Surrey have sacked team director Chris Adams and coach Ian Salisbury, with former England captain Alec Stewart taking temporary charge.

The Brown Caps have yet to win an LV= County Championship Division One match this season, having finished one place above the relegation zone last term.

Adams was recruited in a high-profile move from Sussex in 2008 but the primary success during his time at The Oval was 2011's Clydesdale Bank 40 Trophy and the club's heavy investment demanded more.

Since retirement, 50-year-old Stewart has worked as both a coach and club ambassador for Surrey and he will be assisted by bowling coach Stuart Barnes while a new management team is sought.

Adams' reign has been hard off the pitch as well as on it, with the death of batsman Tom Maynard last year casting a long shadow over the county.

But hopes were high for a successful campaign this year, not least when deals were announced with the likes of South Africa Test captain Graeme Smith and Australia great Ricky Ponting.

But Smith's first season was cut short by injury and despite a strong start by Ponting, a return to Division Two remains a possibility.

Surrey's first match without Adams and former England spinner Salisbury is against Yorkshire on Friday, a game that will also be Kevin Pietersen's first competitive action since injury.

A statement from Surrey today read: "Team director Chris Adams and first-team coach Ian Salisbury have been stood down from their responsibilities at Surrey CCC with immediate effect. Surrey CCC would like to thank them both for their hard work and contribution, which culminated in winning the CB40 Trophy in 2011.

"Executive director Alec Stewart and bowling coach Stuart Barnes will assume wider responsibilities in order to take charge of team affairs starting with Surrey's next fixture at Yorkshire starting on Friday June 21, in which Surrey will be seeking their first win of the Championship season."