Signing Ashley Metcalfe could be the coup of the close season

Signing Ashley Metcalfe could be the coup of the close season."Last season 11thTip "Surrey could be a force and Shaun Pollock will prove a success at Warwickshire."SomersetDirector of cricket Bob Cottam 51. Former Hampshire, Northants and England seamer, appointed 1992.Objectives "Greater improvement in our one-day form, particularly in the Sunday League."Prospects "Having lost Mushtaq Ahmed, we have to find 95 wickets. Former Worcestershire and Lancashire player and Lancashire coach.Objectives "To encourage the development of young spinners Jimmy Hindson, Usman Afzaal and Richard Bates, and of Noel Gie, who did well with the under-19s in Zimbabwe."Prospects "We have a good enough squad to win something, although I wonder if the wickets at Trent Bridge are sporty enough. I'm also looking forward to seeing Mal Loye re- establish himself as a good player."Prospects "With Curtly Ambrose back we hope to be as competitive as before."Last season 3rdTip "Apart from Warwickshire and Middlesex, I feel could have a good year."NottinghamshireManager Alan Ormrod, 53. Hopefully Richard Johnson, Angus Fraser and David Follett will stay fit. With John Emburey gone we will be looking to Paul Weekes to bowl more."Last season 2ndTip "Warwickshire and Northants will both be competitive again."NorthantsChief coach John Emburey, 43, after 22 years with Middlesex.Objectives "I'm hoping to play some cricket, which will help me to encourage the development of the younger players. But I'm looking forward to young batsmen such as Darren Maddy and Aftab Habib coming on this year, and Ben Smith is ready to realise his potential."Prospects "We have a balanced squad with depth, although the fitness of our strike bowlers, David Millns and Alan Mullally, will be an important factor."Last season 7thTip "Yorkshire could do well with David Byas in charge."MiddlesexCoach Don Bennett, 63.

Former Middlesex seam bowler (1950-68), appointed coach 1969.Objectives "To see an improvement on last year, especially in the one- dayers and specifically the Sunday League."Prospects "From our point of view, the bowling is the key. Former Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire and England off-spinner, appointed in 1992.Objectives "First to overcome the loss of Nigel Briers, who has a knee injury that could keep him out for a couple of months. Our failure to win the Championship for 45 years rankles with some members and it would be nice to put that right."Last season 4thTip "I'm not qualified to give one yet, although I can tell you who will do well at under-17 and under-19 level!"LeicestershireCricket manager Jack Birkenshaw, 55. Ex-Lancashire wicketkeeper.Objectives "To maintain the fine work done by David, who has left us with a young, talented squad."Prospects "Replacing Wasim Akram will not be easy But there are very few changes apart from that. Cricket development officer appointed on Wednesday after David Lloyd's departure to England. Coached Western Australia before joining Kent in 1991.Objectives "To maintain our form in one-day cricket is obviously one aim, but the big thing is to improve in the Championship.

He has been a magnificent player for the club."Last season 18thTip "Lancashire and Middlesex have to be respected but Warwickshire, set the standard."LancashireCoach John Stanworth, 35. You cannot make excuses for finishing bottom."Prospects "We are good enough to be in contention. Duncan Spencer, who had a back problem last year, is back and Carl Hooper is returning. If we could finish just below top six in the Championship we would feel we'd be making progress."Prospects "You do not replace players of the calibre of Malcolm Marshall, Chris Smith and Mark Nicholas overnight, so we are very much at a transitional stage, but we expect some of the younger players to fulfil their potential and hope that, as coach, Malcolm will bring the best out of Winston Benjamin."Last season 13thTip "Kent may be good outside bet for the title."KentCoach Daryl Foster, 57. Former Gloucestershire opening batsman, appointed in 1991.Objectives "To maintain the progress made last year."Prospects "We took some people by surprise last year, but we knew we had a good young side. The signing of Paul Grayson from Yorkshire improves the squad. I have a feeling he could be as successful as John Childs and Peter Such have been after joining us from elsewhere."Last season 5thTip "Warwickshire are going to be dangerous again."GlamorganDirector of coaching Alan Jones, 57.

Coach John Derrick, 33.Objectives To avoid a repeat of last season, when a bright start in the Championship fizzled out. "These are exciting times and a heavy responsibility rests on me," the new captain Matthew Maynard says.Prospects The potential of such players as David Hemp and Adrian Dale will have to be fulfilled if Glamorgan are to make an impact.Last season 16thTip "Curtly Ambrose's presence will make Northants a strong bet." - pace bowler Steve Watkin.GloucestershireCoach Andy Stovold, 43. "We expect our new overseas player, Stuart Law, one of Australia's brightest limited- overs players, to give us something extra."Prospects "We finished with five wins in a row in the Championship, which is encouraging. With those, plus the likes of Melvyn Betts and Steve Lugsden, we hope to see improvement."Last season 17thTip "I fancy Yorkshire will do well."EssexCoach Responsibilities shared.Objectives "We were fifth in the Sunday League, but we'll be hoping for improvement in our one-day performances, having gone out early in both the other competitions," the general manager Peter Edwards says. Former Northants and England opening batsman, in charge since Durham's 1992 debut.Objectives "I'm looking forward to seeing some of our talented younger players establish themselves as useful cricketers."Prospects "I'm loath to hide behind injuries but there's no doubt that seeing little of Jimmy Daley and Jon Wood, for example, had an effect last year. Derbyshire Coach Les Stillman, aged 45 Came here with Australia `A' in 1995.