St.George’s, Somerset and Devonshire — three of the more accomplished clubs in domestic cricket — appear to have profited most during Bermuda Cricket Board’s (BCB) off-season transfer period.

With the 2007 transfer deadline due to expire today, it has emerged that the trio are poised to have their ranks bolstered by an influx of new players.

In the East End, Bailey’s Bay players Ryan Steede and Rodney (Picnic) Trott have made the short trek over to St.George’s along with Willow Cuts’ veteran all-rounder Trevor Forth. Steede looks set to try and regain his spot on the Cup Match champions’ XI while young Trott may look to consolidate his own spot in Cup Match on the back of a highly successful debut in the classic last summer.

Forth, who has played all of his cricket at Cuts, may well be mounting one final challenge at breaking into the classic before he bows out of the game after several unsuccessful attempts at Somerset.

During the off-season St.George’s were able to persuade coach George Cannonier to stay at the helm, but former team skipper Herbie Bascome and St.David’s remain locked in negotiations over the vacant coaching position at Lords.

Returning to St. David’s will be World Cup all-rounder Lionel Cann following a brief spell at Southampton Rangers who have also lost the valuable services of coach Clevie Wade. Wade will instead try his luck this summer coaching Bermuda’s Under-19 national squad in their preparation for the upcoming Under-19 World Cup, leaving Rangers skipper Janeiro Tucker in the dual role of player/coach.

Heading west are Western Stars’ wicketkeeper Jekon Edness and left-arm spinner Hasan Durham, two players Somerset coach Winston Reid will no doubt welcome.

Devonshire have lured BCB senior executive Allen Richardson out of retirement while the promising Sean Perinchief and Western Stars’ batsman Ian Armstrong are also heading to the Rec.

Richardson, on a short list of those tipped to run for the presidency of the BCB during the Board’s upcoming AGM in May, is a former Devonshire Cougars winger who played under late coach Randy Benjamin.

“Devonshire don’t really have a large crop of players to choose from, and so I thought I’d try and help them out a bit,” Richardson explained. “I’ve spent many years with St.David’s, but they are a well established team and besides I’ve always been very fond of Devonshire and had good ties with the club.”

Richardson, the second batsman in Eastern Counties history to surpass 1,000 runs in the competition, said he was also keen to impart his experience upon some of the young players at his new club. “I realise that cricket has changed since when I retired from playing on a regular basis. But hopefully I can assist Ricky (Devonshire coach Ricky Brangman) in some of the coaching duties because I do believe there are a few very promising players at Devonshire.”

Devonshire, meanwhile, have parted company with key all-rounder Omar Amory who will turn out for Willow Cuts this season.

Amory’s arrival at Royal Naval Field could help compensate for the loss of Forth to St.George’s and provide Cuts with another recognised bowling option.

Other notable players on the move are Western Stars’ Saleem Mukuddem, Somerset’s wicketkeeper John Woolnough and Bailey’s Bay all-rounder Dennis Pilgrim.

World Cup star Mukuddem has opted for life at a slower pace with First Division Leg Trappers this summer, and he is set to be joined by Englishman Woolnough at Sea Breeze Oval.

Pilgrim will be reunited with former Bay skipper Charlie Marshall at Social Club in a move that could give the Pembroke club the edge needed to wrestle a maiden Premier Division title after coming agonisingly close last summer.

Warwick have lost Bajan coach George Rock who will attempt to revive Southampton Rangers’ youth programme. And among the short list of potential successors for former Bailey’s Bay and Bermuda national coach Rock is compatriot Ricky Hoyt — grandson of West Indies cricket legend Sir Everton Weekes.

The 2007 season is tentatively scheduled to commence on Sunday, April 22, according to BCB sources.