IT'S been a winter of upheaval at Radcliffe Cricket Club, but chairman Dave Halliwell is confident it can build on last season's second placed finish with an infusion of youth.

Last season's leading wicket taker in the Central Lancashire League, Eddie Shah, has joined local rivals Stand, and all-rounder Nick Kennedy has turned professional with Manchester Association side, Bury.

In addition, Damien Keegan has joined Elton as player-coach to leave the Radcliffe ranks shorn of valuable experience.

However, skipper Graeme Simpson will once again lead the Racecourse outfit, and professional Pasan Wanasinghe will hope to continue his good form from last season with both bat and ball.

The club hopes to unveil an Australian all-rounder soon, and Halliwell sees the loss of key men as a great chance for home grown talent to come through from the second team.

"We are lucky that we have so many talented young lads coming through, it's a great opportunity for them.

"Ashvak Gorsi was brilliant for us at the end of last season, and Phil Hayes is another player with outstanding potential," Halliwell enthused.

Steve Parry has been snapped up by the Lancashire Academy and Toby McLean is being tracked by Northamptonshire, but Radcliffe's trump card could turn out to be 16-year-old Stephen Cheetham.

Cheetham has been working one-to-one with former England bowler Peter Lever over the summer, and was clocked at 82mph at Lancashire's indoor centre.

The club are also hoping to secure the services of former all-rounder Garfield Morton after his injury problems last year.

Behind the stumps, John MacCauley should return to don the gloves, but he will face some healthy competition from young talent Richard Farnworth.

Overall, the future looks bright for Radcliffe . . .