Stuart Broad has criticised Lancashire for their handling of James Anderson's exit, describing the county’s decision not to retain his former England bowling partner as "disrespectful".

The club confirmed on Sunday that the 44-year-old seamer would not be offered a new contract, following days of widespread media reporting.

It follows a campaign in which Anderson took 50 County Championship wickets at an average of 17, earning him Lancashire’s player of the year award despite the team's poor overall results.

"I think it’s a pretty disrespectful way for Lancashire to deliver that news to him," Broad said on the podcast he co-hosts with Jos Buttler, For The Love of Cricket.

"I didn’t like it from Lancashire, to be honest. I thought it was not done in the right way.

"I think you give your icons or greats of the game a better sign-off, a better send-off than that, and it shows a lack of leadership at that club, a lack of doing it in the right way.

"I feel uneasy, uncomfortable about it. I think if Jimmy Anderson wants to play another year when he’s taken 50 ‘poles’ at 17, you find a way to do that."

Lancashire have endured a difficult period both on and off the pitch, marked by membership dissatisfaction and a penultimate-place finish in Division Two of the Championship.

The decision not to grant Anderson a new deal came following administrative changes, including the arrival of chief executive Richard Kenyon and director of cricket Paul Farbrace.

Explaining their reasoning, management indicated they wish to assemble a squad capable of achieving promotion before winning Division One inside three to four years.

Anderson, who has represented the county since 2000, expressed disappointment, saying, "If it was up to me, it wouldn’t have ended like this," while indicating he may search for a fresh club.

Broad noted clear parallels with how Anderson’s England Test career was brought to an end in 2024 prior to him being ready to stop.

Broad said: "I feel for Jimmy because the Test career sort of got ended by (director of cricket) Rob Key and (coach Brendon) McCullum before – a bit of a shock to Jimmy for sure, and done in a pretty poor way.

"This, again, it just doesn’t sit that comfortably for me and I think he deserves more."