CAPTAIN Mark Mansell is optimistic for the future of Kidderminster Cricket Club - but he sees a need for new blood at Chester Road.

The Birmingham and District Premier League side are primarily looking to survive at the traditionally competitive level this season.

But Mansell feels the talented batch of young players at Kidderminster could be a force to be reckoned with in years to come if they stay together.

To achieve this though, the experienced batsman and slow bowler believes an injection of new faces and ideas are needed at the club.

And Mansell, who was keen to step down from the captaincy before the season started, is also calling for someone to take his role.

He wants to concentrate on his own game, which he admits has been suffering, and possibly also work more with Kidderminster's junior section.

Mansell said: "We have got three or four players in their late 20s or early 30s but everyone else is below 23.

"That's good for the future, there's a lot of promise here but you do need the experience with the blend of youngsters.

"When you're running on our budget, you've always got to be looking at consolidating your place every year.

"It's becoming increasingly difficult to push for the title because there's a lot of money flying about.

"If we didn't have (James) Pipe and (Chris) Liptrot from the county, we couldn't afford to replace them. We do rely on our young players coming through and staying with us."

Mansell continued: "This has always been a very good league. You find sides can bat a long way down the order, they have strength in depth.

"I would say our 11 players would class themselves as batsmen in our team.

"I'm in my sixth year as captain now and I believe we need a new one, probably someone from outside the club.

"I would like to concentrate on my own game because in the last two years my performances, mainly my batting, have gone down.

"It would be for the good of the club. It's sad because we've got a brilliant facility but are slightly struggling. We need new blood in the committee too."

For this season though, experience could be the key to keeping Kidderminster afloat and ex-England bowler Phil Newport's arrival is still expected.

Mansell explained: "We would sometimes like one or two more senior players.

"The only option we might have is Phil Newport. That's in other people's hands but we hope to see him mid-to-late July."

Fourth-from-bottom Kidderminster head to Knowle and Dorridge on Saturday (1pm) after the abandoned weekend game with Coventry & NW.

Their opponents are just one place above them and Mansell admitted: "They won their league last year and I don't know too much about them.

"But I'm surprised at their position - I thought they'd be challenging for the title."

Teenage all-rounder Richard Wilkinson will return after suffering a bad shoulder injury in the rugby season.

Wilkinson should be joined by Worcestershire's Pipe and Liptrot who were due to play for their county's firsts in a three-day friendly with Durham University starting yesterday.