GILLESPIE WILL RETURN IN 2007

Jason Gillespie
By JMB
December 20 2006

Jason Gillespie is to rejoin Yorkshire in 2007 according to BBC reports. Gillespie, 31, played for Yorkshire last season but was below his best in taking just 36 wickets as the Tykes struggled to sixth in the County Championship.

Gillespie has verbally agreed a new contract and will link up with Yorkshire's other overseas star Younis Khan, who is due at Headingley in early May after Pakistan return from the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Yorkshire haven't finished there. Chief Executive Stewart Regan said "We're confident we will be able to add to the squad before the start of next season and we are very much turning our attention towards that. If there is a quality batsman out there, for example, we would certainly be interested in bringing him on board. It's just a question of who's available. We are conscious of the need to strengthen but, as I've said before, we don't want to be signing journeymen players. They have to be better than the talent already at the club – otherwise, what's the point?"

The club has denied rumours former England star Darren Gough could be set for a return to Headingley. Regan said "I can confirm that there's been no formal discussion - that's another bit of rumour and speculation. I've never spoken to Darren Gough during my time at the club. Darren has been in Australia and it might be that he has chatted to some Yorkshire people over there, but I have absolutely no idea to be honest."

Elsewhere the Yorkshire Post claims that seven candidates are in the frame to take over from David Byas, who was ousted as director of cricket at the end of last summer. It is being suggested that Byas could soon leave the club.

Regan said "What we are going to do now is look to advertise for a head of professional cricket in the national press, which will probably happen in early January. There are several names in the frame but we think it would be a good idea to cast the net further. We're not going to rush into an appointment and we want to make sure we get the right person. There has been plenty of interest so far and that's certainly encouraging."