James Anderson has revealed his disappointment about losing his Lancashire contract, saying “if it was up to me it wouldn’t have ended like this”.

It emerged on Wednesday that Anderson had been told that his contract would not be renewed despite being named Lancashire’s Championship cricketer of the season.

Anderson, 44, took 50 wickets at 17 in the second division despite Lancashire’s poor form. A new chief executive, Richard Kenyon, and director of cricket, Paul Farbrace, have been appointed and are conducting a review of the club’s cricketing operations. Anderson is the first victim of the rebuild after Lancashire finished second bottom in the championship.

Other counties are understood to be interested in talking to Anderson, who has said nothing about his future and will now have to decide whether to call time on his 25-year playing career or see it out away from his boyhood club.

Lancashire only confirmed his release on Sunday morning with Anderson speaking for the first time about the situation shortly afterwards, releasing a statement on his social media accounts. He said: “I’ve supported Lancashire since I was kid, and so to get to play for them for 25 years was a dream come true. I have always found it special walking out to play at Old Trafford and have some incredible memories of doing so including the honour of being captain – if it was up to me it wouldn’t have ended like this, but I wish the players and fans all the best for the future.”

Farbrace, who worked with Anderson in the England set-up, picks up a club on its knees and faces a big rebuilding job. He said: “Jimmy is without doubt the greatest bowler Lancashire and England have produced. He has been a fantastic competitor throughout his career, with exceptional skill and an unwavering commitment to setting the highest standards in every dressing room he has been part of.

“Following a meeting with Jimmy and Richard Kenyon at Emirates Old Trafford on Monday 19 October, I spoke to Jimmy about our ambitions to rebuild our men’s squad that is capable of securing promotion from Division Two of the County Championship and then challenging to win Division One over the next three to four years.

“We are keen to begin that rebuild now, both in terms of the playing squad and the wider professional cricket set-up, and to make important progress over the coming months. As part of those plans, I informed Jimmy that we had taken the incredibly difficult decision not to extend his playing contract for the 2027 season.”