Western Counties Association president Gary Dowling believes the change of venue for this year’s competition and the increase in guest players is consistent with the WCA’s innovative approach to the game.In an effort to boost crowd numbers, which have been steadily declining in recent years, the WCA have moved this season’s matches to Somerset Cricket Club, with PHC and Warwick meeting in the first round on Saturday.Dowling said the change had been welcomed in the West End, and he hoped the excitement would bring back supporters and their families.“This year’s going to be the year that we try something innovative,” said Dowling. “For those that don’t know, it (Somerset) was one of the original fields that was used for the Western Counties, going back years ago. It’s not like it’s the first time it’s ever been played there.“Somerset have greeted us with open arms, they’ve shown us support, they know what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to boost the Western Counties, we’ve lost a lot of support because we’ve been limited to the amount of grounds that we had.“This year we’re going to take the game to Somerset and hopefully we can bring back some of those people who haven’t been out to the games. We’ve got everyone on board, all the folks in the West End are all excited, Somerset Cricket Club are throwing all their support behind us. We were expecting that they might have some reservations, but they are willing to support us 100 percent.”It’s not a decision that initially met with universal approval, but Dowling said Southampton Rangers had come around and would take part.“Basically I would say that just about all the issues are cleared up,” he said. “They (Rangers) have paid up and they are ready to play, and hopefully it goes well.”Dowling said change was part of the WCA’s history, and pointed to other instances where the Association had led the way in Bermuda.“We have been the most innovative when it comes to cricket,” he said. “We were the ones that first used coloured uniforms, we were using coloured uniforms 10 years before they were introduced by the BCB.“So that everyone would get the opportunity to win a game, we went to the limited overs game, and that hasn’t been reached in the Eastern Counties yet.”The increase in guest players has been driven by the desire to strengthen some of the teams in the competition, namely Warwick and Somerset Bridge.Warwick have already signed up Somerset quick Jordan Desilva and their former skipper Kian Butterfield, who now plays for Cleveland. They had been hoping to get St David’s allrounder Sammy Robinson to play as well, but Bermuda Cricket Board have scheduled a Premier Division game between Devonshire Rec and St David’s for Saturday, which ruled Robinson out.With teams now allowed up to four guest players, Warwick are still chasing two more to strengthen a side that was well beaten by PHC last year.PHC had been chasing players of their own, but the league game has deprived them of the chance to get former players Ricardo Brangman and Dean Stephens back for the competition that they played a large part in winning last season.As it is the champions seem likely to stick with their regular league team, although given that a couple of their players are reluctant to play in the West End that might be a slightly weakened version.Dowling though said he thought that some players’ security worries had been over-emphasised and said that he was confident in the preparations the WCA had put in place.“I can go anywhere in Bermuda, anywhere in the country, if you’re respectful of people, and that’s what I think it’s about, being respectful of people,” said Dowling.“We have worked out security with Somerset Cricket Club, and we’ve worked a deal with them.”