I have no real issue with the award of two year contracts to Alex Hughes and Tom Wood, nor the one-year one to Mattie McKiernan. It was something of an inevitability for the latter two, after the awards they won at the club's annual dinner last weekend.
With Wood having been 'poster boy' for the club Twitter feed in recent weeks, it would have looked pretty silly to then announce his release. His century against Nottinghamshire will live long in the collective memory and his power and stroke play in one day cricket will prove a potent weapon.
He has work to do on his technique for the four-day game and the defence isn't as secure as it could be, but the talent is there for the new Head of Cricket to work on.
Similarly, McKiernan was voted Second XI player of the year, so to then announce his departure would have made the club a laughing stock.
I like him as a cricketer, but he needs to make the most of his opportunities next year under a new Head of Cricket. He also needs to be given more at senior level, because his bowling seems to be seen as a 'last resort'. I think it is better than that and perhaps he, like Anuj Dal, could benefit from greater responsibility.
Long time readers will know I am a big fan of Alex Hughes and so I am pleased to see him get a new deal. Coming in from left field, he will be a strong contender for the captaincy if they don't look to Matt Critchley, certainly in the one-day games. A change is needed, in my opinion, with fresh eyes and enthusiasm.
Yet my concern is that Dave Houghton has made, or been allowed to make, decisions on contracts when he won't be at the club.
Unless the new Head of Cricket is to be given a pot of money as yet undeclared, he looks set to go with the same squad for next year, as he has been presented with a fait accompli.
I just find it very odd. So whoever comes in cannot be fairly judged next year, unless he turns us into a mid-table side, because there would appear to be only money for the overseas players.
It makes the appointment of the right man absolutely critical, because we desperately need someone with a track record of motivation, capable of getting the best from what we have.
Nils Priestley won't be part of the new regime, his release having been announced yesterday.
A talented cricketer, capable of useful left arm spin and clean hitting, his development was not sufficient, at this stage, to earn a new deal.
It could come again, if he goes away and works on his game, or his future could be outside cricket.
Either way, I wish him well.
