DURHAM yesterday confirmed the release of six players, but admitted their current budget still would not allow them to bring back Shoaib Akhtar for a full season.

"Money is an issue," said coach Martyn Moxon. "We are exploring whether we can find the money we need for Shoaib. We are trying to put together a squad to be competitive within our budget."

With off-spinner Nicky Phillips among those released, Moxon added: "We are working on bringing in another spinner and hope to make an announcement on that in the near future."

Danny Law and Ashley Thorpe have been released, leaving skipper Jon Lewis and Vince Wells as the only remaining English players from outside the region.

Pacemen Ian Hunter and Nicky Hatch and all-rounder Chris Mann have also gone, with Mann's release finally being made official. He actually went in May following two years of injuries since being awarded a full-time contract. He never appeared in the first team.

Phillips, 29, has been with the club for six seasons and played in 58 first-class games, taking 135 wickets at 40.2. His one half-century was a swashbuckling 58 not out at Colchester last year.

Londoner Law, 28, previously played for Sussex and Essex and is unlikely to find a fourth county.

Signed largely on the strength of his performances against Durham, which included a hat-trick, he topped the bowling averages in his first season in 2001, when he also made his only century - 103 against Hampshire at Riverside.

But injuries and inconsistent form have since restricted him to five championship appearances in each of the last two seasons.

Moxon insisted that Law had not lacked desire, adding: "He's one of those players who are nearly there. There have been many like him before and there will be many more in the future.

"Danny has tried hard and we as a club have tried hard to get the best out of him, but we needed more consistent performances from him."

Although not quite having Law's great natural ability, Hunter fits into the same category, while Thorpe will be grateful to have had two years as a first-class cricketer starting at the age of 27. In 16 innings he had an average of 20.1 with a top score of 95.

Darlington-born Hatch, 24, had three years on the full staff after graduating from Hull University. His best figures were four for 61 against Worcestershire at Riverside last year, but he was unable to add the extra yard of pace or develop the aggression he needed to exploit his 6ft 8in frame.

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