Freddie Flintoff’s huge new role confirmed after surviving horrific Top Gear crash almost one year ago

5 months ago 33

FREDDIE Flintoff has landed a new role almost a year on from surviving a horror crash while filming Top Gear.

The England cricket legend, 45, has been named head coach of the Northern Superchargers men’s Hundred franchise.

Flintoff presented Tom Hartley with his England cap in September[/caption]

It comes after Flintoff helped coach England’s one-day international side over the summer as he was pictured for the first time since the crash in December last year.

He said: “I am excited to have been appointed Head Coach of the Northern Superchargers men’s team. Big thanks to Kirsty and Marcus for trusting me with the team.

“My time with the England Men’s team has been a reminder of just how special cricket is to me, and I’m relishing the opportunity to be back amongst it, helping to guide the Superchargers team to success on the field while making memories off it and helping to take cricket to more people.

“The Superchargers have a great fan base who I cannot wait to meet and bring along with us this season. I’m looking forward to making Headingley my new home.”

Flintoff will join England Lions coaching staff for next month’s training camp in the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, The Superchargers are one of eight teams competing in The Hundred, a franchise tournament launched in 2021.

They opted against renewing James Foster’s contract, with Flintoff set to succeed him as the new men’s head coach in 2024.

It will be Flintoff’s first head coach position in professional cricket.

It’s understood he will be assisted by former Lancashire teammate Kyle Hogg, who also helped Flintoff with his three-part Field of Dreams series.

But the announcement could call into question his return to Top Gear.

Filming for the show Flintoff co-presents with Paddy McGuinness and automotive journalist Chris Harris has been halted since the crash 11 months ago.

The BBC has yet to reveal if filming will resume with Flintoff.

A spokesperson said: “A decision on the timing of future Top Gear shows will be made in due course with BBC Content.”

It comes after Flintoff agreed a £9million settlement with the BBC over his smash at the Dunsfold Aerodrome.

The cricket icon negotiated a payout understood to be for two years’ loss of earnings after suffering “life-altering” injuries.

A source said: “Fred has been left utterly traumatised and shell-shocked by this entire episode.

“You cannot underestimate the physical and mental toll this crash had on him.

“He could have easily sued BBC Studios – and perhaps got considerably more from them – but instead agreed to settle privately, with as little animosity as possible.

“By the time Freddie returns to screens next year at the earliest, he will have lost out on almost two years earnings.

“Because of the surgeries he’s had, he may also have to turn down other work – or not be offered it in the first place – which also came into consideration when it came to the final offer.

“Fred is still very much on the road to recovery, however, and at the moment is purely focused on this, his England cricket coaching, and being with his family. For Fred, it’s never been about the money.”