The Readers County Durham League: It is a case of two in, two out at Esh Winning but stalwart Joe Lawlor is still confident that the side will mount a strong title defence.

Last season's success was their first in 15 years but two players who made significant contributions are no longer with the club.

Professional Rizwan Quereshi has moved on along with Shafiq Ahmed, who topped the bowling averages taking 54 wickets at a cost of only 12.2 runs apiece.

Pakistani left-arm spinner Farouk Iqbal is the new professional and paceman Paul Chivers has joined from Willington. Mark Davison has headed in the opposite direction.

"We are looking forward to another successful year under David Watson. It is a young side which improved during last season and we expect to be in the championship race once again," added Lawlor.

Tudhoe were second last time and they have a new pro. All-rounder Fachin Rana, a 21-year-old Indian, will sample English wickets for the first time and another signing is local boy Stephen Ball who returns to where his career began.

Ball played as a junior before becoming part of a very successful Philadelphia side. Last season he was professional at Crook Town but has now been reinstated as an amateur.

Another former Tudhoe junior, Robert Chismon, has also returned to his roots and the side will be led by David Ronson.

A massive blow for Brandon, who led the table for several weeks at the beginning of last season before finishing sixth, is the departure of Australian Jim Allenby who has won a contract with Leicestershire.

"Jim was fantastic for us during two seasons. His absence from any side would be keenly felt and we will miss him- but we wish him all the best," said secretary Ian Johnson.

Brandon have another Aussie as replacement in paceman Brent Jarvis and the only other newcomer is wicket-keeper batsman Ian Musgrave who has returned.

Crook Town will have Pakistani Hammad Tariq as professional. A 25-year-old left-handed batsman, he has a first-class average in excess of 30 and has scored seven centuries in Pakistan.

Deepak Kumar and Krishna Thangavelo have also joined but Stephen Ball has returned to Tudhoe and Neil Davis is now with Willington.

Australian Chris Slattery is once more at Willington and will captain the team, while Ushaw Moor have brought in all-rounder Pakistani Imran Ulla. Stephen Hancock will skipper their side.

A significant signing is Imran Jan at Mainsforth. He excelled in the Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League with Blackhall and Guisborough and his all-round ability could make Mainsforth a force to be reckoned with.

Gary Purcell will captain the team which includes former Horden and Blaydon wicket-keeper David Sherrington, while Ian Noble has moved in from Whickham.

John Cavanagh may not be able to play. He damaged a shoulder and arm in a car accident which could rule him out for the season.

Etherley have re-engaged Craig Emmanuel and skipper Michael Crane will have the former Willington bowler and batsman Chris Wearmouth in his line-up while Evenwood have changed their pro.

Indian Yjoty Yhdav is set to make his debut in the North-East and Andy Poole, who has played for Suffolk in the Minor Counties, has also made himself available. The new captain is Billy Teesdale and his task will be to regain the title which they conceded for the first time in three years during 2005.

Shannon O'Hara, 28, who plays Grade A cricket in Sydney is a new arrival at Kimblesworth, who have signed two players from Lanchester in Tony Halliday and Kevin Dixon. Stephen Meek, a formidable all-rounder, has again been tasked with leading the team.

It's all change at Shildon who will attempt to hand over the wooden spoon. Phil Timmens and Balou Krishnan have moved in from Bishop Auckland while Phil and Tim Garbutt (Rockliffe Park) and Jimmy Middleton (Darlington RA) take the total of newcomers to five. Gary Davis is captain.

Hylton, who enjoyed playing in the league last season following their transfer from The Surridge Sport Durham Coast League, have re-signed Lee Rushworth from Sunderland.

Lee Jackson has returned to Boldon CA and spinner Stephen Merrington is now with Murton. A further blow to the Wearsiders is the news that David Tait is recovering from a broken leg.

Langley Park have brought in Aussie Henry Cusac, a teenager from Perth with good batting credentials. Stephen Gray is captain and Simon Huscroft deputises.