THE new chairman of selectors of Herefordshire County Cricket Club (HCCC) says it is paramount that youngsters in the county know they will get a chance to play for the Minor Counties side if they are good enough.

Ian Macklin, previously chairman of the Second XI, was voted to replace Ernie Morgan at Monday night's annual general meeting.

Macklin believes the Minor Counties club has 'drifted away' from cricket in Herefordshire during the past few years and it his job to now bridge the gap.

"It has become a separate entity which looks at Herefordshire and says, 'oh there's not many clubs and not many young players coming through so we have to go off and get somebody from outside'," said Macklin.

"But if some of these young lads that give up cricket from an early age think they may stand a chance of playing at the real higher level and might even get paid, I'm sure that will help to reinvigorate local cricket.

"But the gap that has existed between the Minor Counties team and Herefordshire cricket has not been helping.

"I don't think any of us really wanted to get involved in what has been seen as a takeover.

"We wanted it to be seamless and run by cooperation, but the fact is there has been a dysfunction between the second XI and the first XI.

"Our coach is not allowed to have any say in the selection process and the first team coach never watches the Second XI – well that can't be right.

"Whatever Ernie said about the shortage of local cricketers, to a large extent it's true, but they haven't done anything to help.

"We know that next year's team will probably only have a couple more local players than this year's team did, but we will make sure that any kids who are fringes know that if they get to even close to be good enough, they will get a chance."

Macklin believes Herefordshire Cricket Ltd also has a key role in reinvigorating cricket in the county.

"Cricket in Herefordshire has been declining for quite a long time and it is the job of Herefordshire Cricket Ltd to try and do something about that and I think they are," he said.

"Herefordshire cricket is on a bit of a low and I'm sure Herefordshire Cricket Ltd will be looking at things to improve it and I think we will see a resurgence of cricket at the lowest possible levels.

"No one is playing cricket at primary schools any more and no one plays hardball cricket.

"I can understand it with all the health and safety issues, but one of the jobs of Herefordshire Cricket Ltd and the ECB is to get primary schools to play cricket.

"I think in the next few years there will be an upsurge in interest in cricket and the Minor Counties team has a major role to play in helping that out and giving kids something to aim at.

Morgan said that, if circumstances were better, more local cricketers would have played for the Minor Counties side last season.

"We appointed Ben Stebbings and Will Barrett as vice captains, but for whatever reason, Stebbings didn't play any minor counties cricket, Will Barrett came back from Australia injured, likewise Callum Stewart and Jamie McIlroy was unable to play any three-day cricket.

"David Exall was available, so if circumstances were right, we would have had five local players in the Herefordshire side.

"But we seem to be absolutely unique in Herefordshire with the shortage of teams and the players of the calibre of which we can choose a side of.

"What we need is more ambition from the clubs in this county to lift themselves up the pyramid and getting playing playing at the right level, better coaching and proactive efforts from Herefordshire Cricket Ltd to get cricket back in this city."

* In another switch, Richard Prime has replaced Bobbie Edwards as chairman of HCCC.

Ken Sharpe has also stepped down as secretary and match manager.