Something for the weekend

Thanks to Adam for his e mail today, in which he asked if I expected many more signings in the close season. After all, he said, now we know the membership prices it is important that we know more or less what the team is likely to be.

Well mate, to be honest (and I'm never otherwise) what you see is what you get. Apart from an overseas player, hopefully for the majority of the season and perhaps a different one for T20, I don't expect any more signings. For one thing, there's not been many players who have become available in the close season that struck me as substantially better than what we have. One or two perhaps, but not much more than that. Take Ajmal Shahzad, for example. Good bowler with international aspirations, but would you say he would walk into the current Derbyshire side? I wouldn't. He has good days, but if he is serious about playing at a higher level he needs to find a greater level of consistency. As things stand, I wouldn't drop one of Palladino, Groenewald and Clare to make a space for him and he sure wouldn't head our way to be first reserve.

Then there's the costs already incurred this winter. We have brought in two players who cover our biggest weaknesses, both of them players whose names have been mentioned in international terms in recent seasons. While Billy Godleman's career has stalled a little in the past two or three summers, he has the talent to become a big player for Derbyshire and such cricketers don't come for the salary of an unproven player. Likewise Richard Johnson. Time will tell if he becomes first choice with the gloves (his battle with Poynton will be fascinating) or if he makes it as a batsman, maybe opening batsman alone. Again, though, he was reserve keeper at the county champions, where he was presumably well paid and he would hardly move for less money and similar prospects.

Then, of course, there is money spent on extending and presumably improving the contracts of our best young players. That was 100% the right thing to do, as it would be galling to see them head to other counties who would then reap the rewards of the hard work over the past ten years or so. I have as much idea of the money involved as the rest of you, but my guess is that two new players on the wage bill, together with improved contracts and increased pension contributions for a few more will add at least £150K as a minimum to the playing costs. That's even before you factor in an overseas player, the cost dependent on the talent and reputation of the player(s) we manage to attract.

I have no worries about the money side, not with people of the calibre of Chris Grant and Simon Storey at the helm, but the onus will be on attracting more members, more sponsors, more corporate bookings to help to cover these costs. They will be confident of doing so, as top tier sport is always a more attractive proposition from a marketing perspective, but there can be no doubt about the challenges faced.

Perhaps the most facile comment I have read in recent weeks was a correspondent on the Forum, who asked when we were going to sign some "proper" players. The choice of words could have been better, but however it was expressed it was an insult to some very good players who are already on the staff, together with two very talented ones who have come on board since September.

I don't expect Derbyshire to take division one by storm, but anyone who expects us to roll over in the old style for some of next year's opponents will be in for a shock. As with any other side, there will be days when we do well and days when we are outplayed, but I don't expect us to lose through lack of effort. We will need our share of luck, of course, as had through 2012. If we lost Palladino and Groenewald to long-term injury I would be less confident, but if key personnel stay fit and the outstanding team spirit is maintained we will be in there scrapping.

Crucial, oh so crucial, will be that overseas role. As I was writing the last piece it struck me that a Dean Jones or Peter Kirsten-type batsman would be just what we need.

With no disrespects intended, if we end up with a Chris Harris or Jon Moss we will struggle, but I'm sure that those at the helm are well aware of the need for a 'big' player.

Whether we can get one is an eighteen carat, one hundred thousand dollar question.

Enjoy your weekend.