LANCASHIRE may hang fire on appointing a successor to Peter Sleep as second team captain-coach until they have filled their head coaching vacancy.

Sleep's decision to leave has taken the club by surprise and left them in need of a complete restructure.

It came just as they were deciding to advertise for a new first team coach to succeed Dav Whatmore.

And chief executive Jim Cumbes said today: "We've got a few options to consider over the next few days, but it may be that we wait on the second team appoiontment to allow the head coach to have some input."

One of those second string options could be offering the position to Mike Watkinson.

He is one of several senior players who have yet to sign new contracts, and his first team opportunities were limited to one-day cicket in the second half of the season.

With his wealth of experience, Watkinson could be seen as an ideal choice to supervise the development of Lancashire's young players.

But whether he would be prepared to accept a second team role is another matter.

Meanwhile Cumbes was hoping to speak to Andy Flintoff's agent Andrew Chandler today.

Flintoff has flown to Japan to spend some time with his brother, but Chandler is authorised to agree a new deal on his behalf - although he is currently in St Andrews for golf's Dunhill Cup.

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