BRAD YATES UNVEILED AT S+B WHILST NEW VISA RULES FORCE A RETHINK AND A NEW SIGNING

Date: 16th February 2017

A Paul Edwards copyright exclusive for L&DCC Official Website.

Club delighted with two new signings.

Mac Wright will not be playing for Southport and Birkdale this summer but Trafalgar Road officials have acted quickly to plug the gap created by the absence of the Tasmanian all-rounder.

In place of Wright, who would not have been granted a visa under the Home Office’s new Managed Migration regulations, S&B have signed another Australian batsman, Tearan Gleeson, and have also recruited the highly-rated Lancashire Under 19 wicketkeeper-batsman Bradley Yates (pictured).

Nevertheless, the inability of Wright to get a visa under the new rules is just one example of a problems which are bedevilling a number of clubs in the Liverpool Gin Liverpool Competition as they try to cope with new criteria defining a professional cricketer. It seems likely that the only overseas players the league will see this summer are those with considerable first-class experience or those who can convince the Home Office that they are 100% amateurs.

For S&B skipper Chris Firth, though, the new signings completed a topsy-turvy month during which the disappointment regarding the unavailability of Wright was replaced by the elation prompted by the addition of two quality cricketers to his squad.

“It was a huge blow when we found out that we couldn’t get Mac into the country,” he said. “He would have performed two roles for us, firstly by batting in the top four and then by bowling plenty of overs as a leg spinner. However, we have moved very quickly to get two players in who will certainly strengthen the side and it is great news that Brad and Tearan will be joining us.”

Firth’s relief is understandable, as is his satisfaction. Yates joins S&B from Urmston but started his career with Bradshaw in the Bolton League. He has played several games for Lancashire’s second team and helped the Red Rose team win last year’s Second XI Trophy.

“Brad will open the batting as well keeping wicket and he will certainly help deal with the top-order fragility we seem to have had ever since I started playing senior cricket,” said Firth. “Good judges saw him play some excellent knocks for Lancashire’s Under 19 side last year.”

Firth will be hoping that Tearan Gleeson also adjusts quickly to wickets in the Liverpool Gin Liverpool Competition. The top order batsman and part-time leg spinner plays for Footscray Edgewater in the Victorian Premier grade competition and has played a mixture of first and second grade cricket. He was averaging over 40 for Crook Town CC last year before a broken finger curtailed his season.

“Our batting now looks much stronger and there is plenty of competition for places,” said Firth. “With the second team squad also looking really strong, we have much to which we can look forward in the in the summer.”