RUMOURS of Darren Gough's demise have proved unfounded.

After retiring from international cricket, Gough's future in the first-class game with Yorkshire has been under scruitiny.

But last night, Gough's game was not among the five first-teamers who won't be at Headingley next summer.

And he will be spending the winter trying to get fit for a full summer with his county in 2004.

Gavin Hamilton, Ryan Sidebottom, Gary Fellows, Pieter Swanepoel and opening batsman Scott Richardson have been freed.

Sidebottom's release was revealed in Northern Echo SPORT this week and he is already interesting Durham coach Martyn Moxon.

Academy player Joe Ellis is also released, along with Thomas Dimaline and Craig Wiseman, who were both at Headingley on scholarships.

With Hamilton still unable to bowl this summer because of a continued lack of confidence, his departure was not unexpected.

Hamilton, 29, who was born in Scotland, played in one Test match for England against South Africa in 1999-2000. He also successfully represented Scotland in the 1999 World Cup, scoring a total of 217 runs at an average of 54.25 and making 79 against Pakistan at Riverside.

For Yorkshire, Hamilton scored 2,228 first-class runs at an average of 24.75 and took 222 wickets at 24.68 runs apiece. He also scored 743 National League runs and claimed 81 wickets.

Geoff Cope, Yorkshire's director of cricket, said he believed Hamilton was considering going back to Scotland to play league cricket.

In a statement released through Yorkshire, Sidebottom said: "It is a wrench for me to leave Yorkshire. I have a long family tradition with the club having come through the Academy and followed in my father's footsteps in playing first-class cricket for Yorkshire and England.

"Members and supporters have been fantastic to me and I wish the players and the club all the very best for the future.

"I am currently in negotiations with several other counties who have shown interest in me. It is my aspiration to build on the success I've had with Yorkshire and to win back my place in the Test side."

Yorkshire chief executive Colin Graves said he did not consider it a blow to lose Sidebottom.

"We have a number of fast bowlers already playing for Yorkshire and also some young fast bowlers coming through who need to be given an opportunity."

Fellows scored 1,498 first class runs and 893 in the National League. He took 32 first-class wickets and 13 in the National League.

Richardson had 13 first-class games for Yorkshire in which he scored 377 runs.

* Dermot Reeve is ready to take a leading role in shaping the club's future, on a part-time basis. It is believed he will set the club's agenda, while leaving the day-to-day running to coach Kevin Sharp as he carries on his television work.