SETTLE Cricket Club have decided on a major change of direction next season in an effort to make themselves more competitive in the Ribblesdale Cricket League.

They have replaced long-serving professional Surendra Bhave with Stuart Hornby, a young bowler from the Bolton League, and have taken his father, Keith, a prolific run-getter, on board with him. Andy Davidson has been appointed captain for what will be his third term at the helm.

Chairman Anthony Bradley, who will captain the second team next season, welcomed the signing of Hornby and the return to action of Davidson when he said: "They are both talented and experienced players, who are winners. Instead of waiting for things to happen, the club is wanting to make things happen, from the junior section to the top of the playing structure.

"Changes in personnel in vital positions reflect this approach and we hope that we can play good, competitive cricket throughout the season and, hopefully, become a winning side.""You repeatedly see professional batsmen making good scores every week, but the team failing because the amateur back-up isn't good enough," said Davidson.

"I'm sure that teams which have a professional taking five or six wickets each week are the ones which consistently do better.

"Looking at the team now reminds me very much of the situation that existed when we last won the Ribblesdale League title in 1984. Then, we were coming off the back of a poor season, but in engaging Kevin Sample, we recruited a player who could guarantee to get wickets every week.

"We had former pro and captain Don Weavers supporting him and he picked up wickets cheaply because batsmen felt that they had to get after him when they couldn't get the better of Sample. I'm hoping that the same kind of situation will apply with Hornby and David Jolleys.

"I'm quite sure that we are not a bottom-of-the-table side by any means and that we have some real talent in the club. What we seem to lack is consistency and the confidence that comes from winning.

"There's a good attitude among the younger players coming through and I'm sure that we can do much better this time."

Hornby, 23, is a former Lancashire Schools opening bat and had also played for the Lancashire Federation, the Bolton League and Edgerton CC, where he has claimed over 60 wickets each year for the last five. He also scored over 400 runs last season batting at No 8.

His father Keith is a former captain at Edgerton and professional with Tong CC and has over 15,000 league runs to his credit.