Jimmy Adams has confirmed that Kent are on the hunt for an overseas signing, but is unable to provide any names just yet.
The club are looking to strengthen their playing squad before the start of the 2014 season, and are working on securing an internationally-recognised name to add to the team.
However, they are unable to confirm anyone just yet, with the decision not being made until after the IPL auction has taken place, as this will then give Adams and the rest of the club a much clearer idea of who will actually be available to them.
Speaking to KSN, Adams said: “We haven’t ruled out the opportunity of a new overseas player, but it’s a decision that will have to wait until after the IPL auction has finished.
“The situation with the auction makes it a little bit difficult to say. You have to have contingencies because you don’t know who’s going to be picked up in the auction, so I’d rather not get into that – just suffice to say we are interested in an overseas player and we’ll have to wait until the auction is finished.”
KSN understand that one name potential target is Australian fast bowler Doug Bollinger, although at this stage, these reports are unconfirmed.
Adams and the rest of the Kent staff will hope to have someone in place before the season starts, and ideally have them on-board before 14th March, when the squad meet up again to begin their pre-season training schedule.
And Adams hopes to carry out pre-season at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, as opposed to heading off to the West Indies or somewhere else around the glove, as they did prior to the 2012 season. He understands, however, that the Great British weather could prove to be something of a hindrance.
“We’re hoping that we can do pre-season here at the ground, but you know what it’s like in England – we’re going to have to say weather permitting!”, he said.
“We have about half the squad playing club cricket overseas and the “report-back date” is going to be the 14th March. Hopefully we’d like to know that we can go straight outdoors here and get going, but we’re watching the weather on that one because it’s still a bit wet!”
With the 2014 season looking likely to be one where some of the Kent youngsters step up and really make a name for themselves, Adams is keen for both development and success in the new campaign.
“I’m very greedy”, he said. “I’d like to tick all the boxes.”
“I’d like to think that the young players can develop but at the same time we can play positive cricket and get good results as well. I’d hate to start the season thinking either/or.”