The media circus returned to Headingley Carnegie this week - in numbers not seen since the days of Geoff Boycott - for the announcement that Darren Gough was coming back to Yorkshire as captain, writes DAVID WARNER.

Other than Freddie Flintoff being dragged over the Pennines to take charge, it is hard to imagine any other English-born cricketer attracting the same attention as Gough, who remains one of the top names on the county cricket scene.

Yorkshire have got the star they wanted to top the bill but they are also aware that they need the right director to make the production work, and they are convinced that man is Martyn Moxon.

Gough is a boisterous and charismatic showman with a big ego but he needs a guiding hand to help Yorkshire stay on course and there is noone he respects more than Moxon, who, like himself, is Barnsley born and bred.

Moxon was already an international player when Gough made his Yorkshire debut at Lord's at the start of the 1989 season and it was during Moxon's time as Yorkshire captain, from 1990-95, that the young fast bowler's talent emerged and developed to the stage where he became one of the world's greatest players.

Gough may be the headline-grabber but he's had a sometimes volatile relationship with the fans and he still needs to win over those who feel he deserted Yorkshire for Essex after pocketing a record benefit of £250,000 in 2001 and not giving much in return.

There is no fear of Moxon having to appease White Rose followers, however, for he remains high in their affections and is arguably the most popular cricketer ever to play for the county.

From the moment he scored a century on debut against Essex at Headingley in 1981 he became a firm favourite and his friendly personality and easy charm were assets which others at the club have not always possessed in such abundance.

But personality means little without talent and Yorkshire fans were proud to be able watch and associate with a batsman who went on to score 18,973 runs for the club at an average of 43.71 and become the 14th most prolific run-getter in its history.

And, of course, there was huge sympathy for Moxon from within the Broad Acres when he dropped the bombshell early in January, 2000, that he was resigning from his post as director of coaching to take over a similar role with Durham.

Moxon has been a loyal and conscientious servant at Riverside but everyone was aware at the time that he had been forced out of Yorkshire because of a growing rift with the then chief executive, Chris Hassell. He did not want to leave but circumstances forced the move.

If Gough and Moxon prove to be the dream ticket that Yorkshire hope and expect then Chris Adams' dramatic walk through the exit door before he had even entered it will have been a blessing in disguise.

Yet Moxon, even more than Gough, will know that nothing is achieved at Yorkshire without heartache and torment preceding it.

Sometimes as captain he could be reduced almost to tears of frustration and he will be able to calm down Gough when he goes through similar trying times.

It is no disrespect to Durham to say that Moxon, like Gough, remains Yorkshire through and through and if he can return home and produce a few players from the same mould that he used for Harmison, Collingwood and Plunkett, then he will be continuing to do his job well.