The Durham County League season won't start until May 12.

A meeting of league clubs last week decided that because of the foot-and-mouth scare, the start of the season should be delayed for a fortnight to enable clubs to prepare for the new season.

The delay will also give clubs more time to consider how to tackle the league's new rule whereby no bowler is allowed more than 12 overs in an innings.

It has certainly made some clubs think about the merits of their professionals, as players who can do more than just bowl will be a useful addition to their team.

Champions Leadgate will be the team to beat again.

Bilal Rana is back as professional and they have also brought in Stuart Graham from Consett and Gary Innes from Greenside, but opening bat Richard Hawthorne has gone to Sunderland.

However, this could be Leadgate's last season in the league, as they have successfully applied for the Tyneside Senior League, although they have yet to resign from the County League.

Crook Town, who finished runners up last season, welcome back Shahid Anwar for a fourth season, but they have lost all-rounder Richard Manuel to Willington.

All-rounder Calvin Stephenson has handed the captaincy over to Anwar, while they are hoping that bowler John Nuttall will be available after suffering from a shoulder injury for most of last season.

Kimblesworth have strengthened their side during the winter.

Michael Fishwick is still pro, while all-rounder Farooq Iqbal has stayed at the club. Naz Ahmed has returned from Leadgate, while Mahsood Mirza has also been signed as an amateur. Kevin Dixon and Ian Hauxwell have both left the club.

Esh Winning welcome back Mohammed Zahid again as pro, but they have lost Dave Richardson to Burnmoor and bowler Danny Lewis to Stockton. They are hoping Ian Dixon might be able to play more regularly than last summer.

Etherley will be relying mainly on their up and coming youngsters, with batsman Carl McGregor playing more first team games. Gary Cummings will start his second season as professional

Ushaw Moor have brought in a new pro, Travis Dowlin. Micky Hayton is captain, with Martin Gill vice captain. Willington, in their second season in the league, have brought in Richard Manuel from neighbouring Crook as professional, while Karl Brown has taken over as captain from Stephen Hurst.

After three false starts, Evenwood finally managed to secure the services of West Indian Deighton Butler as professional. Michael Pedelty will captain the side for the second time in his Evenwood career.

Shildon Railway expect to be mainly unchanged from last season, with professional Gary Wigham after a winter in Australia.

Mainsforth have changed pros. Neil Pratt has left after four seasons and replaced by Robert Chismon.

Brandon, who finished bottom last season, have recruited an Aussie - Campbell Robertson - as their pro, while Dean Storey has returned after playing for Leadgate and Ushaw Moor last season. They have signed Stephen Dunsford from Benwell Hill and is the new captain.

Langley Park have decided to operate without a pro this season, so they will have almost the same side as last season. Stephen Gray is the new captain in place of Keith Smith, while David Gladstone will again take on the bowling responsibilities.

Sedgefield are another side without a pro. They have signed all- rounder Neil Mulvaney from Ryhope.

Tudhoe are the third club in the league without a professional, so the responsibility will fall on skipper Kevin Littlefair and his new vice captain Simon Davies.