PADIHAM captain Jon Hartley hopes his famous new signing can help boost his side's Jennings Ribblesdale League campaign.

As revealed exclusively in tonight's Lancashire Evening Telegraph, the former Blackburn Rovers keeper John Filan is set to join the Arbories side once he returns from holiday in his native Sydney, Australia.

Filan, who now plays for Wigan Athletic following a £600,000 switch last year, could be a major draw for the Ribblesdale League side, but Hartley's not sure.

"I don't know about that!" said the 42-year-old, who was the professional at the club for four years between 1981 and 1985.

"But I do know he is a decent player. We haven't seen him bat yet because they wouldn't let him when he was at Rovers but he is a good right arm medium pace bowler."

Padiham's season got a kick start last Saturday when they hammered their arch rivals Read to take maximum points from the tie.

"It was a good performance, I was very pleased and the supporters were very happy," said Hartley, who is in his first season as captain at the club.

"Phillip Metcalfe made 90 and he will be making a bid to be our top batsman this season.

"Quasim Ali got 51 and the pro Lee Childs went in and got 62 off 30 balls.

"It was nice for him to get off the mark after scoring one run and taking no wickets the week before!"

Childs is a 28-year-old who plays for Victoria in Australia. He proed in the Bolton League for Farnworth two years ago.

"He is not quiet, he's a keen socialiser as you might say!"

Padiham reached 256-4 before bowling Read out for 111.

"You can't really comment on other teams, a lot of Read's players are good players and they didn't have Terry Little and that helped us.

"But they had a bad day and we can all have them.

"I certainly hope for us to be in contention especially when John Filan comes over.

"Cherry Tree and Blackburn Northern will be strong. Northern have improved a lot, they struggled every year before last year when they got Ata-ur-Rehman as their pro."

Hartley says he is enjoying the captain's role, but said it was a different sort of pressure compared to being the pro.

"The pressure is more on us two. It makes the wins feel twice as good - but the defeats twice as bad.

"Last year we won 11 and lost 11 so I am hoping we can do at least better than that this season."

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY: Baxenden v Earby, Cherry Tree v Settle, Clitheroe v Blackburn Northern, Great Harwood v Edenfield, Oswaldtwistle v Barnoldswick, Read v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Whalley v Padiham