OPTIMISM is back at relegated Kidderminster Cricket Club with a number of winter changes laying the foundations for their Birmingham and District League Division One season.

Bottom-of-the-table Kidderminster dropped from the Premier Division with West Bromwich Dartmouth last year amid turmoil at Chester Road North.

They had been flirting with danger in the previous three seasons with two 10th and a ninth place finish out of 12 teams.

Kidderminster were struggling to compete with the fierce challenge of the Premier which has become much more money orientated.

To make matters worse, the club desperately needed revitalising as the committee had worn themselves out with the constant fight against poor results and occasional player apathy.

Training had become non-existent, late cry-offs were captain Mark Mansell's nightmare after five years leading the firsts and the club also mourned the death of long-serving groundsman Denis Jones.

However, hopes have been raised with former Old Hill man Sean Lloyd the new captain and groundsman, well-known Rob Wood installed as coach and Norman Broadfield taking up the reins as club chairman.

Kidderminster also have their allocation of Worcestershire players though regular county first teamers Steve Rhodes and Paul Pollard are highly unlikely to be seen.

Wicket-keeper James Pipe, who averaged 29.51 with the bat last season, has been lost to Old Hill due to the drop in standard but the town do have quick bowler Chris Liptrot.

Kidderminster-based county seconds regular Steve Davies, a talented 16-year-old wicket-keeper and batsman, is also available along with Worcestershire Academy's Gurdeep Kandola.

Kandola crashed 582 runs for the county seconds last season, while England schools international Davies has a very bright future, according to Rhodes.

Kidderminster, who were able to include former England bowler Phil Newport in the last campaign, also have their regular overseas player in Mandeep Singh from India.

All-rounder Singh will start this third season at the club and will aim to build on 2001's 47 wickets and more than 300 runs.

Lloyd, 34, and Wood want to give youth a chance and will build for the future primarily though they hope to be in with a shout of promotion.

The skipper Lloyd has played for Worcestershire seconds and Worcester City as well as Old Hill along with coaching Herefordshire U-19s.

And Wood, who believes in practice and preparation, said: "We have excellent facilities at Kidderminster with good nets and superb fielding conditions.

"I want to see the players prepare for games by purposeful training and attention to pre-match warm-ups. They have to adapt to a more structured and professional approach."

Kidderminster have a number of youngsters knocking on the door as well as the experience of Mansell and others like Stephen Ralph, Richard Bradford and up-and-coming star Ted Baylis.

Broadfield, also a stalwart at Kidderminster Carolians Rugby Club, is already leading the club in the right direction, introducing fund-raising measures to keep them going.