Former powerhouse Bailey's Bay Cricket Club have emerged as serious contenders for promotion to the top tier this season after profiting handsomely during the off-season transfer period.

The First Division club have lured the valued services of Under-19 national team skipper Rodney Trott and star batsman Glenn Blakeney back to Sea Breeze Oval where they hope to restore some of the sparkle from the past which has been missing in recent years.

Blakeney, who banged a career-best 303 not out against Bay a couple of seasons ago, believes newly-installed skipper Trott is the right man to lead the club's revival this year.

"I think Rodney has already proven he is capable of handling the captaincy job and I'm looking forward to assisting him in any way that I can," said Blakeney, who won a Premier Division title at Social Club last season.

"After winning the league with Social Club last season I figured my job there was pretty much done and so I thought I'd go back and help out with the youngsters down at Bay.

"I'm pretty excited about returning and the guys have really welcomed me back. I'm just looking forward to being a part of the team this season."

Remarkably, Bay did not lose a single player during the off season following a disappointing 2007 campaign and instead managed to persuade others to join them.

And having now reinforced the ranks, Blakeney sees no reason why Bay cannot achieve their primary objective of promotion this season.

"I think we have a good chance of promotion," he reasoned. "The guys just have to put their heads down and work hard and at the same time enjoy the game.

"We are definitely going through a rebuilding phase and the majority of the players there are young guys. But the vibe around the club is good and so far we have had 20-plus players out to training sessions and overall things are looking very promising."

Blakeney saw limited action last season but plans to spend more time at the crease this year, something his new club will be counting on if they are to make a serious push for promotion.

"I'm certainly looking to see a lot more action than I did last season. I'm getting myself in gear and focused on the season. You are going to see more of me this year," the star batsman said.

Others who have signed on at Bay, whose batting line-up also boasts senior national team skipper Irving Romaine, are all-rounder Dennico Hollis, seamer Clarence Trott, wicketkeeper/batsman Sinclair Smith and Somerset Bridge's Kaya Robinson.

But while Bay have managed to lure a few old faces back to Sea Breeze Oval, neighbours St.George's Cricket Club have suffered the complete opposite in losing head coach George Cannonier to St.David's as well as the services of six players in Ankoma Cannonier, Jason Anderson, Trevor Forth, David Adams and Under-19 skipper Trott and Smith to Bay.

Police Recreation Club, who were promoted to the Premier Division last season, have solidified their ranks over the off season with quickies George O'Brien jr and Traddie Simpson and slugger James Celestine all joining forces with the men in uniform.

First Division champions Devonshire Recreation Club picked up useful players in fast bowler Mackie Crane and wicketkeeper/batsman Stephen Bremar jr who has already sampled a taste of senior national team cricket.

Belco Cup champions Southampton Rangers parted company with the likes of 2007 Male Athlete of the Year Dwayne Leverock, pace ace Simpson and opening bat Curtis Jackson in exchange for St.David's slugger Shannon Raynor and veteran all-rounder Quinton Burch, among others.

Warwick picked up the valuable services of St.David's all-rounder Sammy Robinson while Western Stars, who will be coached this season by assistant senior national coach Herbie Bascome, have acquired promising wicketkeeper/bastman Khiry Furbert.

PHC also profited during the tranfser period by signing St.George's pair Anderson and Adams as well as St.David's batsman Fiqre Crockwell while, as previously reported, Leverock and Jackson have signed on at Cleveland County who will tour England this summer.

TRANSFER LIST

Ankoma Cannonier from St. Georges to St. David's

Jordan Hill Warwick Somerset CC

Michael Corday Willow Cuts Leg Trappers

Arun Kikkeri Western Stars Leg Trappers

Khiry Furbert PHC Western Stars

Allan Wayne Ball Willow Cuts Somerset Bridge

Nyon Steede Warwick Police

Traddie Simpson S.Rangers Police

George O'Brien St. David's Police

James Celestine Flatts Police

Trevor Haynes Somerset CC Police

LoVintz Tota Devonshire Police

John Pitcher Police St.George's

Damon Walker Cleveland St.George's

Nelson Bascome Flatts Social Club

Shane Simmons Somerset CC Social Club

McLaren Smith jr Somerset Bridge Willow Cuts

Trevor Forth St.George's Willow Cuts

Randy Bean S.Rangers Warwick

Samuel Robinson St. David's Warwick

Shannon Raynor St. David's S.Rangers

Quinton Burch Warwick S.Rangers

Gerald Simons PHC S.Rangers

Jaime Ford PHC S.Rangers

Fiqre Crockwell St. David's PHC

David Adams St.George's PHC

Jason Anderson St.George's PHC

Sinclair Smith St.George's Bailey's Bay

Kaya Robinson Somerset Bridge Bailey's Bay

Clarence Trott Somerset Bridge Bailey's Bay

Glenn Smith-Blakeney Social Club Bailey's Bay

Dennico Hollis Western Stars Bailey's Bay

Rodney Trott St.George's Bailey's Bay

Curtis Jackson S.Rangers Cleveland

Dwayne Leverock S.Rangers Cleveland

Steven Bremar jr Warwick Devonshire

Mackie Crane St. David's Devonshire

Charles Warren Social Club Devonshire

David Bhagwan Police Devonshire