Michael Soper, the chairman of Surrey who recently lost out to David Morgan in his bid to succeed Lord MacLaurin as chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has announced his intention to stand for another influential position in the game.

He issued a statement that reads:

"I am very pleased to announce that I will be standing for the position of chairman of the First-Class Forum and deputy chairman of the ECB.

Since David Morgan's election, we have spoken about the position, which he leaves vacant and he is very supportive towards me gaining this post.

Many county chairman have rung me pledging their commitment and I feel I would be able to contribute in a very real way by leading the first-class counties forward in the challenging times ahead"

Soper has been diagnosed as suffering from terminal cancer, but he is courageously devoting the rest of his life to the administration of the game that has given him so much pleasure and to which he has given so much in return.

© CricInfo