Andrew Flintoff has stepped down from his role as head coach of the Northern Superchargers after failing to reach an agreement with the team’s new owners, Sun Group. The former England captain revealed that salary negotiations broke down, suggesting the new owners made him feel undervalued by offering him a package worth only around 25% of what other head coaches in The Hundred are earning.
Flintoff, one of the most recognisable figures in English cricket, has spent the past two seasons leading the Headingley-based franchise. Under his guidance, the Superchargers showed notable progress, culminating in a third-place finish in this year’s competition. The coach said he had hoped to continue building on that momentum but felt he had no choice but to walk away.
He explained that while money was not his primary motivation, the offer made by the new ownership group was simply too low to accept. “I felt we were building something really nice and I’d have loved to see it through,” he said. “They phoned up and said they wanted me to stay on, but when the offer came through, it was just over a quarter of what other coaches are earning. It wasn’t really about the money, but you also want to feel valued.”
Flintoff’s comments suggest that the negotiations with Sun Group — the Indian conglomerate that recently acquired full ownership of the Superchargers — were brief and unproductive. “I said, ‘This isn’t going to work for me,’ and they weren’t going to move on it,” he added.
Adil Rashid, one of the team’s key players and co-host of Flintoff’s cricket podcast, expressed surprise at the decision, telling him, “You’ll be missed. I wasn’t expecting that.”
Flintoff’s departure comes amid a period of significant change across The Hundred as new investors reshape several franchises. London Spirit have already managed to secure the services of Andy Flower from Trent Rockets, and further movement among coaches and backroom staff is expected before the 2026 season.
Meanwhile, the Northern Superchargers are reportedly set to rebrand under the “Sunrisers” name, aligning with the identity of their IPL and SA20 sister teams. With Flintoff’s exit, the franchise faces a major decision on who will take charge of the squad heading into the next campaign.
