ASHLEY Giles is targeting a swift return to the County Championship’s top division after being appointed as cricket director and head coach at Old Trafford.

The former England player and coach is charged with reviving the Red Rose’s fortunes after a disappointing season which saw them relegated on the final day of the Championship season.

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Giles played 54 Test matches for England, taking 143 wickets, and was a key part of the 2005 Ashes winning team.

He has since made a seamless transition into coaching, and he is looking forward to the challenge of restoring Lancashire to the top table in county cricket.

“Lancashire is a massive club with a rich pedigree and history and I am thrilled by the prospect of coaching them,” he said.

“It is our intention to return to Division One but our main aim is create something both successful and sustainable, which a club with such an incredible history deserves."

After retiring from playing Giles became director of cricket at Warwickshire, the county he represented as a player for 14 years, in 2007.

He led the Bears to the County Championship title in September 2012, the year after Lancashire ended their 77-year wait for the title. He also masterminded their Division Two triumph in 2008 and their one-day 40-over titles in 2009 and 2010.

In 2012 he was appointed head coach of England’s one-day and Twenty20 sides, and was widely tipped to take over the reins of the Test team as well following Andy Flower’s departure after the Ashes whitewash last winter.

He was beaten to that role by Red Rose coach Peter Moores and Giles has been looking for a return to county cricket since then.

He will link up with Lancashire straight away and is keen to get to work.

“Emirates Old Trafford is a stunning international venue with excellent facilities and I cannot wait to work with the players and staff,” he said.

After Moores’ departure in April Lancashire captain Glen Chapple took over coaching duties, assisted by 2nd XI coach Gary Yates.

Upon relegation the club confirmed they wanted to move away from that structure and appoint a full-time coach, a role which interested 40-year-old Chapple, although he is now likely to carry on playing for another year.

Earlier this week cricket director Mike Watkinson left Old Trafford after a 32-year association as player, captain, cricket manager and cricket director.

The county have now combined the role of coach and cricket director, with Giles filling both positions.

Michael Cairns OBE, Lancashire County Cricket Club chairman, said: “Ashley Giles is a highly respected and regarded coach with a track record of success in the county game and has a tremendous amount of international experience garnered through a playing and coaching career.

“He is an exceptional candidate for a county like Lancashire and we are delighted to have secured his services.”