England cricket legend Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff has quit his role as head coach of The Hundred franchise Northern Superchargers over a pay dispute. The 47-year-old was offered just a quarter of what other head coaches earn, a proposal he rejected as insulting. The departure comes as Flintoff returned to television this month after a three-year hiatus, with a reported £9 million BBC settlement providing financial security following his near-fatal car crash.
Flintoff revealed on the Beard Before Wicket podcast that the franchise's new owners had undervalued him. «I genuinely don't do it for the money - although it's nice - but I'm worth more than just over a quarter of the salary of other head coaches,» he said. The former England star described feeling unwanted: «We have new owners and I spoke to them and said: 'Yeah, fine, make us an offer.'»
He added: «I wasn't encouraged they wanted me anyway, and you want to feel valued. So I said that it's not going to work for me and they weren't going to move on it.» Flintoff had been appointed to the Northern Superchargers role in 2023.
Return to Television and Coaching
Despite leaving the Superchargers, Flintoff continues as head coach of the England Lions, the national men's second team, a position he took up in September 2024. This month also marked his television comeback as host of ITV's darts-themed game show Bullseye, reviving the beloved 1980s format originally presented by Jim Bowen.
In his Disney+ documentary 'Flintoff', released earlier this year, he admitted feeling nervous about returning to the screen: «Even going through the walkthrough [for Bullseye], looking on the screen and seeing myself… I'm just trying to find my feet again.»
Recovery After Crash
Flintoff suffered serious injuries in a car accident at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in December 2022 while filming Top Gear. The BBC reportedly paid him £9 million in settlement, reflecting his £1 million annual salary on the show and lost future earnings.
His wife Rachael has revealed that cricket played a crucial role in his recovery, saying the sport had "saved" him during the turbulent period. The coaching roles served as vital lifelines as Flintoff rebuilt his confidence after the accident.
The former 2005 Ashes hero brings over a decade of presenting experience, having previously hosted Top Gear, A League of Their Own, and shows on BBC Radio. The new Bullseye series features professional darts players including current world champion Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
