TODMORDEN

NEW skipper Neal Wilkinson believes Adam Dale could be the man to deliver the club's first Lancashire League title in 40 years.

Dale arrives at Lanehead with an impressive reputation and Wilkinson is in no doubts that the Aussie is up for the challenge.

"Adam has said he intends to use his time at Bacup to get back into the Australian team so he's certainly not coming here for a holiday.

"He's a quality international opening bowler who is particularly highly rated in the One-day game.

"And if he can hit top form then we'd like to think we are in with a good shout."

Wilkinson is anticipating one of the closest championship races for years and apart from his own side's prospects, he also expects Haslingden to re-emerge as a leading force, along with Nelson and East Lancs.

IN: Andrew Pooler OUT: Mark Taylor

NELSON

DUNCAN Spencer is challenging his amatuer bowlers to fill the void left by Roger Harper as the Seedhill club prepare to chase a third successive Lancashire League title.

The defending champions have replaced Harper with West Indian Test star Keith Arthurton.

But though the former Ramsbottom pro is likely to score a bagful of runs, it leaves the likes of Trevor and Danny Kegg to shoulder the burden on the bowling front. "I've said to one or two of the lads that they've now got the opportunity to get more bowling in and it's up to them show people what they can do. "Keith is obviously a quality player and I'm sure he will score a lot of runs for us. But he's a totally different type of player to Roger and it's up to us to bring the best out of him.

"I actually think he's underrated as a bowler. But I don't think he'll be bowling 25 overs a match like Roger used to."

Spencer again expects East Lancs to be his side's principal challengers with Bacup as possible outsiders.

IN: None OUT: None

COLNE

CAPTAIN Gary Laycock insists his side will again be a top-five force this term despite the loss of four key amateurs.

Kevin Cullen, Andrew Leah, Andy Roberts and Glynn Sedman have all quit the Horsfield but, with record breaking batsman Ben Johnson back as pro, Laycock believes they can improve on last season's fifth place.

"I'm not saying we are going to win anything but we will certainly hold our own and be in the top five.

"We may have lost three or four amateurs but we've added a couple of other players and it leaves the door open for a few more.

"And in Ben Johnson I think we will have the best batsman in the league. His league batting record speaks for itself." Laycock believes it could be the tightest championship battle for many seasons and apart from East Lancs and Colne, he thinks Bacup could be a surprise package. "I like Adam Dale at Bacup and if he can get their amateurs going then they will be in with a shout."

"But I will be interested to see how Nelson go on without Roger Harper.

"Now we'll see how good their amateur bowlers really are."

IN: Kamran Khan, Kamran Farooq OUT: Kevin Cullen, Andrew Leah, Andy Roberts, Glynn Sedman

HASLINGDEN

WATCH out for Zimbabwean professional Paul Strang is the message from new skipper Andrew Sidley.

After a disappointing season by their standards last summer, Sidley believes the Bentgate club are ready to crack Nelson's stranglehold on the Lancashire League title.

And he is adamant scores of amateur batsmen will perish at the hands of Strang who is set to bring his rare brand of magic to the league this summer.

"Spinners seem to be the way forward judging by the success Nelson and East Lancs have enjoyed over the last couple of seasons. And I think Paul will be a test for any amateur batsman because they won't have faced a top-class leg spinner for a while." Sidley is tipping Colne as possible dark horses for the league title. "Ben Johnson broke the league batting record last time and I think he could make them into a force again."

IN: None OUT: Liam Bones

RAWTENSTALL

KEITH Roscoe is expecting big things from new professional Matthew Mott as his side bid for a mid-table spot this season.

Mott returns to the Lancashire League on the back of an impressive season in Australia and Roscoe is confident the Victorian can revive his side's fortunes.

"I'm under no illusions about the size of the task -- we've got a lot of catching up to do to make sure we do not finish bottom again," said Roscoe.

"We've got to be more consistent and raise our standards.

"And if we finish mid-table with this team then we will have done well. But Matthew isn't new to the league so he knows what to expect. Ideally, I would like him to score 1,000 runs and chip in with 50 to 60 wickets. If he does that, I'll be delighted." As for the championship, Roscoe believes last season's top two, Nelson and East Lancs, will again be the ones to beat.

"Those two are always up there because their amateurs do what they are supposed to."

IN: None OUT: Matt Hanson

LOWERHOUSE

CAPTAIN Nicky Hope can't wait to unleash professional Martin Van Jaarsveld on the rest of the Lancashire League again this summer.

The South African right hander made a big impact in his first season at Liverpool Road, breaking the club's batting record with 1260 runs.

And after quickly agreeing to come back again, Hope believes Van Jaarsveld can do even better this time and lead Lowerhouse to a top two slot.

"As soon as I saw him in the nets I knew he would get a thousand runs.

"And he looks in great form again.

"Last week we had a friendly and he scored 111 and I'm just looking forward to seeing how many runs he gets this year against the better pros.

"We finished fourth last season so our first aim is to beat that.

"But I believe we can finish in the top two provided we get a bit more consistency from our amateur batsmen."

Nelson, East Lancs and Haslingden are the teams to beat, according to Hope. IN: None OUT: None

BURNLEY

SKIPPER Andy McLeod believes his side could be ready to come of age this summer.

The Turf Moor club have turned to youth in the last couple of seasons in a bid to bring back the glory days.

And with Geoff Foley replacing Anthony Botha as pro, he could just be the kind of experienced figure necessary to turn Burnley into a genuine force.

"We've got a young side but the likes of James Anderson are really starting to come on now," said McLeod, who has also welcomes back former Padiham pro Mark Harvey. And if people like James continue to make progress then I think we can get into the top four or five.

"Geoff certainly has the experience and when he played as sub-pro for us last year he scored 120 and took six wickets against Haslingden. Hopefully, he can do the business for us again."

McLeod believes Jason Gillespie's arrival could make Rishton the main challengers to Nelson and East Lancs.

IN: Jonathan Pickup, Mark Harvey OUT: Kamran Farooq

RISHTON

RECORD-breaking batsman Craig Smith is expected to return after playing only the occasional game last season. Slow left-armer Terry Braithwaite has signed from Ribblesdale Wanderers and Peter Blackman, a bowling all-rounder, comes in from Salesbury. OUTS: Batsmen Jimmy Bibby and Stuart Roberts are not expected to play this summer while wicketkeeper Andrew Bartley's availability could be compromised by work commitments.

ENFIELD

INS: Experienced opening bowler Mark Greenhalgh, who won the title with Rishton and has been in the professional ranks, joins from Walshaw.

OUTS: No real departures, though outstanding amateur batsman Gary Barker, missing for much of last season, is not expected to play. He is not 100 per cent fit and his continued absence will be a loss to the side.

CHURCH

INS: No established first team players signed, though the club have applied for a special registration for a batsman whio has moved from the South of England.

OUTS: None from first team level.

PROFESSIONAL: Mike Watkinson (England). "I am highly delighted with the signing of Mike," said skipper Mark Aspin.

MARK Aspin is hoping that his erratic team will learn from the experience of new pro Mike Watkinson.

"I am highly delighted with the signing of Mike. We can expect runs and wickets from him, without a doubt and I am sure he's a sensible chap who will fit in well. What he has to say should be well worth listening to," said Aspin. "Last year, I was hoping to see us in the top half of the table. We finished the season really well and, in friendlies last weekend, we beat both Lancaster and Morecambe.

"I was delighted with that and I am also delighted with the youngsters who are now a year older and look a year older. I will be very disappointed if we don't make the top half.

"I am not being funny but I am not really interested in how anyone else does this season. As long as we finish in the top half, I couldn't give a damn about the others."