replace Randy Raynor, and the man tipped for the job is last season's Premier Division skipper Ricky Brangman.

Raynor has been forced to quit his position because of work commitments and the club has been advertising the vacant post for the past 10 days.

"We are seriously looking towards strengthening our overall programme at the club and are hoping that we can get somebody who has had experience playing in senior cricket and who is interested in helping us to arrange a long-term coaching plan,'' said Raynor this week.

While refusing to confirm reports that Brangman has been rumoured to be favoured for the post, Raynor did in fact agree that the former skipper was one individual who had expressed an interest in the position.

When Clevie Wade joined Southampton's ranks three seasons ago he did so as a player-coach but it is understood that he played that role for a period of one season only.

There were reports that Wade had not been approached about the job because he had intended to move elsewhere -- possibly back to St. George's -- but Raynor said that the player who has just returned from Kenya with the Bermuda ICC squad has not indicated that he intends to leave the club.

Raynor did however mention that Brangman was willing to step aside as a player and make room for the younger players and noted that there were several who the club intended to introduce to senior cricket this season.

Three promising youngsters he noted in particular were left-handed bowlers Damon Taylor, Dawud Tucker and Dean Stevens while a lot was expected of Damon Francis who continues to improve as an early-order batsman. All players are in their mid-teens.

Although fast bowler Gary Williams has informed team officials that he intends to transfer, Southampton still like the make-up of their team as the new season approaches.

"We have most of the players coming back from last year to form the nucleus of our team and with a good number of youngsters being given a chance to play we anticipate having a great season ahead of us,'' said Raynor.

Southampton will be holding a cricket meeting at 6p.m. today and all players wishing to represent the club this season are to attend. Junior players keen to play cricket for them this season are also invited to attend.