Lionel Cann has been replaced as Warwick Workmen’s Club coach by Lorenzo Tucker after five years leading the league’s youngest team.

Cann, who reclaimed his spot in the St George’s Cup Match team last year at the age of 44, will decide on a new club as he looks to play at least another season.

“A couple of clubs have called, interested in me coaching them, but it was never really my passion,” Cann said. “I’ll take some time off to decide what I’m going to do next, a couple of clubs have asked me to come and coach and a couple who want me to come and play.”

“Coaching was time consuming and a lot of stress comes with it and I’m not sure if I want to go back to that. Warwick was a team at the bottom with a lot of youngsters so it was nice to pass on my knowledge to them.

“I was playing in the last few years to help out the youngsters, having retired from the national programme. It wasn’t my decision [to leave Warwick], it was a transitional decision and Lorenzo is now going to coach them. He was coaching them before me and is now a qualified coach, having gone on to get his qualifications.

“He is a part of the national programme and is [Warwick’s] chairman of cricket so it was a natural transition. My time was supposed to be three years and I ended up doing five.”

Cann said he enjoyed the time at Warwick and is happy with the progress the youngsters have made over the past few years.

“The programme is in place, the boys have found the fundamentals and now know how to compete and win games so I think five years is a good time for a change,” Cann said. “When you get players at 11, 12 years old and now they are 17, 18 and ready for the next level, it’s amazing for me just to have that opportunity.

“I was able to give back to cricket which has given me so much.”

Cann also returned to play for St David’s in the Eastern Counties, helping them reclaim the trophy last season. One of his options could be a return to his home club while playing for St George’s in the league could be another as he has hinted this could be his final year playing in Cup Match.

“I always said I wanted to retire from Cup Match at home [Wellington Oval],” he said. “If I do coach it would be me playing for a team and just passing on my knowledge. I feel relieved now that I can relax and have a bit of fun in my last couple of years of cricket.”

Cann was forced to miss Cup Match in 2015 after a health scare when a clot was discovered on his lung after a visit to hospital. He has since made a full recovery and played in both Cup Match and Eastern Counties for St David’s last year.

“It [illness] took a lot out of me but I’ve found a new passion now, refereeing, and I really enjoy that,” he said. “There’s talk of me going back home to finish my career, we’ve moved past our difficulties.

“If I decide to play I will go back into full training to make sure I can perform and be the best I can be. I won’t be going out just to play, all major competitions will be a part of my plan. I’m still a very competitive person.”