THERE will be no ‘quick fix’ to get Lancashire back fighting for County Championship titles, according to new Red Rose chief Ashley Giles.

The former England player and coach was unveiled at Old Trafford yesterday alongside Glen Chapple, who will be his assistant and will still be available to play, but will no longer be captain.

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Giles only started speaking to club bosses last week and said it was a ‘fantastic opportunity’ to become head coach and cricket director at Lancashire.

He arrives with the Red Rose in a period of transition, having been relegated from the County Championship’s top division last month, and with stalwart Chapple edging towards his retirement after a 22-year career as a player at Old Trafford.

“For the club it’s clearly been a difficult six months since Peter (Moores) left,” said Giles. “Chappy’s done a fantastic job to do three roles almost I think this summer, but it gives us a platform to build on, in my discussions with these guys it’s very much been about not looking at a quick-fix.

“I’m sure you want to hear me say we will be straight back in the First Division, which absolutely I hope we are, but most importantly is building something that is sustainable over a long period and is going to be successful over a long period.”

Giles played 54 Test matches for England and was known affectionately as the ‘King of Spain’, after his home county Warwickshire ordered a batch of mugs to celebrate his elevation to international duty, only to get the inscription ‘Ashley Giles – King of Spain’, rather than ‘King of Spin’.

He played for England with Kevin Pietersen and also coached him during his two years in charge of England’s one-day side.

Yesterday Pietersen described Giles as a ‘great man’, and Giles said he had never had any issues with the former England batsman, whose autobiography has rocked English cricket this week, including accusing Lancashire bowler Jimmy Anderson of being part of a bowlers clique that intimidated younger players in the field.

“I played in a dressing room with Kev and got on very well with Kev,” he said.

“But similarly with those other guys as well, when I coached them I never had any major issues with any of them.”

Chapple was keen on the role of head coach himself having stood in following Moores’ departure in April.

He will now be Giles’ right-hand man and will remain available to play, although he is focusing on the coaching side for now.

“At the moment that option (still playing) is certainly open,” Chapple said.