Bailey's Bay all-rounder Stephen Outerbridge is one of several young local cricketers veteran player-coach Noel Gibbons is aiming to take to England next April.

Gibbons, player-coach with Atherstone CC of the Warwickshire Cricket League, is upbeat about the prospects of local players competing in the UK from where he and St. George's fast bowler Ryan Steede have recently returned after enjoying a "good season" with the First Division club.

"It was the first season for Ryan and myself at Atherstone and Ryan in particular made vast progress. The two of us are looking forward to returning next season, that's for sure," said Gibbons.

"But what really makes it exciting is that we are planning to take some other youngsters with us, or at least attempt to make arrangements for them to join us after the season starts at the end of April."

Gibbons, after returning home, continues to have talks with the Atherstone chairman about his own future and that of Steede, but he has already been told by his and other clubs in the surrounding area that they are seeking youngsters to join their ranks.

Many already have young players from other countries being groomed in the league - in the same manner as former Bermuda national coach Roland Butcher employed Bermuda youngsters O.J.Pitcher and Chris Foggo when they teamed up with Pyford Cricket Club of the Surrey County League last season.

"I am searching around for a few more from here, there are clubs in the league who want young talent," said Gibbons

"The league is just a step above ours here, and although there are some weak teams, it's still very advantageous for our youngsters to have the opportunity of playing abroad, playing under varying conditions and against players they are not that familiar with.

"Just having tours abroad for a week or two is not good enough. Sending teams to the West Indies where our players like to go is not good enough. Even the West Indies are sending their promising youngsters to leagues like ours in the UK, and Pakistan and India are doing likewise."

Outerbridge, a former skipper of the under-17 national squad and a current member of the senior squad, was one of the first youngsters to catch Gibbons' attention, but the player-coach was unwilling to name others he intends to pursue.

A long-serving Bermuda national team player who also served as a selector for the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control over the past two seasons, Gibbons said he was "disgusted" when local senior players backed away from the tour of Argentina earlier this year.

Several players pulled out of the trip at the 11th hour leaving the BCBC no option but to take a number of inexperienced players.

Gibbons believes the international exposure young players would get playing in his league in England for an extended period would be of great benefit and at the same time raise the standard of play in Bermuda.

"My mission is to put something back into local sports by helping players to develop because it seems that the local sporting powers are not willing to employ somebody like myself as a coach in any capacity," added Gibbons.

"Sadly, as a Bermudian, I am not going to get a post here but the important thing is that I also know that being the cricket lover that I am I will get to coach somewhere in the world and at the moment it looks like it will be in England."

Gibbons is anxious for the BCBC to consider having Steede, who was the top medium pace bowler for Atherstone, added to the national squad that was recently chosen to train for the World Cup qualifying round in Los Angeles next September.

According to the coach, the standard of Bermuda's bowling has been dwindling in recent years and Steede, who he says is continuing to work hard at improving his game, deserves a chance to represent his country.

"I would hope that he gets into the squad. At Atherstone he took advantage of the opportunity and made lots of progress. In one season you saw a different guy, his cricket has just opened up," said Gibbons.

"Ryan needed to get away from the local environment. I felt he always had the talent but was one who just couldn't bring it out because of the environment. Now with more experience, greater desire and determination he could be a huge asset to the squad."