All change at the top as League looks West

"I understand I am the first person from a club outside the Premier Division in the League's 111-year history to be given the position and I am elated although I realise I have a very hard act to follow in Ken Gardner,'' he said.

"He was an outstanding administrator and very pro-active.

"Ken was well known and respected, not only throughout the league but in the North-East and, having worked with him for many years, I have great admiration for his knowledge of club cricket and his leadership qualities.

"I hope I can follow in his footsteps," added West who is to take early retirement next month from a senior position with Barclays Bank.

"Sport, particularly cricket, has been a great passion of my life and I have been an administrator since 1968, so I view this appointment as a wonderful opportunity.

"The West family has been involved with Stokesley Cricket Club for over 100 years. My grandfather played in the early 1900s and my son Ian is currently playing for the club."

West retired as a player in 1997 having taken 1,800 wickets and scoring over 10,000 runs.

He first served the league in 1987 as a member of the management committee and was fixtures secretary for six years before stepping down in 1997 in order to devote more time to Stokesley, where a £1.5m facility has recently been completed.

Now he is delighted to be back and lead the league during a time of change. From this season a new Sunday division has been formed which will mostly comprise Third XIs.

He said: "Clubs had expressed difficulty in turning out three sides on Saturdays and this change is broadly in answer to their wishes."

And the new chief believes that the competition is as strong as ever pointing to the number of quality overseas players who have been engaged by Premier Division clubs.

Guisborough will attempt to win the Premier Division title for the fourth consecutive season, but will have to do so without Graham Shaw who last season scored 774 runs averaging 55.3.

He has gone to First Division Marton and, in an attempt to fill the gap, Guisborough have turned to West Indian Imran Jan, who has spent three seasons with Blackhall. Opening bat Jan will add a new dimension to the attack with his spin bowling.

"It is going to be difficult to make it four out of four. There are some strong sides and we are there to be shot down, but we again have a good team," said chairman Dave Norminton, who reports that last season's pro David Towse is coach and will again captain the side.

Saltburn are never far away and last season ended just one point behind Guisborough.

They lost fewer games than any other side and with the highly-rated Mauhtashim Rashid back in the fold after topping the averages with 91 wickets at 12.8 last season, the Seasiders will challenge all the way. Coach Tim Hood has moved from Marske

Bishop Auckland have added to their squad with the capture of Ben Usher from Blackhall, but Lee Hutton has returned to Darlington and Himran Marambe is still in Australia.

Amul Mazumder returns for a second spell after failing by only 21 runs to reach 1000 in 2003.

There have been a number of changes at Blackhall. Mohamed Fazal has switched from Marske, but Usher has departed as well as Stephen Hanson to Silksworth.

Shahzad Ahmed, who played with Fazal at Marske last year, has also arrived and Gavin Watts returns after a year off. He will renew links with ageing brother Richard.

Steve Chapman, way ahead of any other player in the scoring stakes making 1,447 for Hartlepool last year, has taken over as professional with Darlington.

Lee Hutton has returned from Bishop Auckland but Mark Stainsby has joined Northallerton and Danny Page Darlington RA.

The RA have engaged Wilden Cornwall from the Leeward Islands, an all-rounder with first class experience. Darren Hickey continues as skipper.

A big boost to the chances of Hartlepool, who disappointed when they finished second from bottom in 2003 is the capture of Michael Gough from Durham County. He will coach the side and Ashley Day continues as professional. Other newcomers include Paul Gough and Richie Evans from Seaton Carew.

There have been a number of departures from Middlesbrough. Mark Foster (Marton) and Mark Croft (Normanby Hall) have moved to rival clubs while Chris Liddle has been given a second team contract by Leicestershire and Dan Conway has linked up with Yorkshire. Jamaican Brenton Parchment has returned.

You would struggle to find a better local pro than Northallerton's Jonathan Barnes, who year after year produces the goods with bat and ball. He is joined by Mark Stainsby from Darlington.

Redcar have engaged West Indian left-arm spinner and big-hitting batsman Suleimann Benn.

Coach Neil Russell has been reinstated as an amateur but Darren Nalton has announced his retirement.

Lee Sykes is the new captain at Normanby Hall, replacing Stephen McNicholas. Although Talud Ramzan has left, Croft has returned to the club and Mohamed Zaheed has been re-engaged as pro. He claimed 94 wickets, more than anyone else, in his first season.

Also returning to the league is Shanoka Dissanayake at Richmondshire. He was another phenomenal wicket-taker during 2003, taking 87 victims. Richmond's only newcomer is Chris Swan and they hope that one or two youngsters will push for first team places.

Marske had a professional lined up but the arrangement has fallen through. Richard Rennard is the new skipper taking over from Stuart McKay and a notable departure is Tim Hood to Saltburn.

Newly-promoted Great Ayton are looking forward to the challenge. "I have no doubt it will be very difficult but the lads will get their chance and we will just have to see how it goes,'' said captain Dave Pennock.

Sri Lankan Milan Gunaratne, an early-order batsman and off spinner who plays for his country, has been appointed professional.

Henry Blackett, a left-arm batsman and medium pacer who is with Yorkshire Academy, and James Marshall, who did not play last season, will figure prominently.