High Performance & Strategy
- System design and review
- Talent pathway development
- Coach and staff structures
- Performance culture and leadership
Elite sport operations consultancy
Clear, disciplined delivery for high performance sport.
High performance sport doesn’t succeed by chance. It succeeds through clarity, structure, and disciplined delivery.
Holdsworth Sport Consultancy supports governing bodies, leagues, facility projects and performance programmes across cricket and elite sport — turning complexity into clear, repeatable success.
About Richard
Richard Holdsworth is a former Director of Cricket and High Performance Director with extensive experience across international and domestic sport.
- Led high performance systems for national teams across men’s and women’s programmes.
- Managed international cricket operations, including ICC Future Tours Programmes.
- Oversaw domestic competition structures, player contract processes, governance and major event delivery.
- Worked closely with boards, government bodies and international stakeholders.
Practical consulting for real-world delivery.
This is not theory or generic strategy. It is hands-on, operationally grounded support built on decades inside elite sport systems.
Cricket Operations
- International tours and fixtures
- Domestic and franchise competitions
- Playing regulations and governance
- Match day and series delivery
Governance & Leadership
- Board and committee advisory
- Structural reviews
- Policy implementation
- Stakeholder alignment
Operations & Delivery
- Scheduling and logistics
- Budgeting and reporting
- Player contracting frameworks
- Cross-functional coordination
How I add value
Turning complexity into clarity.
Elite sport environments are complex — multiple stakeholders, tight timelines and high expectations. The role of the consultancy is to bring structure, discipline and confidence to delivery.
International tours delivered smoothly, on time and on budget.
Clear operational systems replacing ad hoc processes.
Stronger alignment between boards, management and performance teams.
High performance programmes with clear accountability and direction.
A simple, structured approach.
Engagements are designed around outcomes — from rapid diagnosis through to delivery and sustainable handover.
Diagnose
Rapid assessment of people, plans and risks to identify what is working, what is assumed and where delivery may fail.
Design
Build clear operational systems: runbooks, responsibilities, communication flows and reporting.
Deliver
Hands-on support for tours, fixtures, competitions and programme execution where needed.
Embed
Debrief, refine and ensure the next cycle is easier, stronger and less reliant on last-minute fixes.
Selected experience & impact.
Examples of the level and scope of work delivered across international cricket, domestic operations, tournament structures and high performance systems.
Director of Cricket, Cricket Ireland
Led international and domestic cricket operations, including men’s and women’s programmes, FTP delivery, player contracts and governance structures.
High Performance Director
Built and led national high performance systems, talent pathways, international cricket programmes, performance centre design and major reviews.
ICC Regional Development Manager, Europe
Delivered programmes across 30 countries, developed sustainable structures and governance, and managed international tournaments.
European T20 Premier League Cricket Committee
Chaired oversight of regulations, scheduling and competition operations.
Flexible support depending on your needs.
Support can be shaped around advisory input, hands-on delivery, planning cycles, interim leadership or facility and programme development.
Advisory
Targeted input for CEOs, Directors of Cricket and senior leaders.
Operational Support
Hands-on help for tours, series, competitions and event delivery.
Strategic Planning
Annual planning aligned to budgets, performance goals and stakeholder expectations.
Interim Leadership
Short-term senior support during transitions, pressure points or programme change.
Contact
Let’s keep it simple.
If you have a challenge, email Richard directly and we can work out the quickest route to a solution.
Based in Ireland and the UK. Available for remote and on-site work globally.