Former Bermuda wicketkeeper/batsman Ricky Hill is poised to become the new coach of Somerset Cricket Club's senior team.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Level Two certified coach is to replace Somerset's interim coach Ricky Hoyte later this month.

It is understood Hoyte, grandson of West Indies legend Sir Everton Weeks, has yet to produce a coaching certification despite promising to do so.

He has also reportedly fallen out of favour with club management and Somerset skipper Jacobi Robinson over his handling of the team and according to sources in the West End will step down as interim coach on June 15 when it is anticipated Hill will take over at the helm.

Hoyte and Hill, who has represented the West Enders in the annual Cup Match classic, were the only two applicants for the vacant coaching position at Somerset.

Hoyte did not return calls yesterday while Hill refused to comment.

Earlier this year, Hoyte was denied a move from Social Club after failing to submit his transfer application prior to the March 31 deadline, according to Bermuda Cricket Board.

It has also been claimed that he took on coaching duties at Somerset despite having not been officially released by Social Club where he played an integral part in the club's back-to-back Premier Division limited overs success.

Under Hoyte's stewardship, Somerset launched their 2009 limited overs campaign on a solid note last weekend with back-to-back wins against two-time defending Premier Division champions Social Club and Cleveland County.

And with the exception of skipper Robinson, the former Barbados national cricketer appears to have the firm backing of the majority of his players.

"The players are very receptive to the coach (Hoyte) and everything seems to going so well in training as well as during the matches," a Somerset source told The Royal Gazette.

"Everyone is happy with the coach and the younger players at the club really like him because they are learning a lot of new things already.

"He is very knowledgeable about the game. He hasn't lived here his whole life but already he has identified the strengths and weaknesses of opposing players.

"He knows how to bowl at certain players, how to set fields to certain bowlers and also how to go about run chases. Everyone is quite happy with the coach."