FROM the 2008 season, county cricket clubs will be allowed to sign just one overseas star per year.

The decision to reduce the number of overseas players from two to one was made by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following widespread murmurings of discontent from the counties themselves.

More frequent international tours has made it difficult for counties to be able to attract overseas players they can count on to remain available through the majority of the season.

And Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton supports the decision and is hopeful the new ruling will see young English talent flourish at New Road.

He said: "I think that a couple of years ago all clubs felt they needed two overseas players, because having top players from around the world adds star quality to your side.

"But the huge increase in the amount of international cricket played nowadays has made it very difficult to sign a top overseas player who will be available for an entire season.

Coming and goings of overseas players during the season can then cause a lot of upheaval.

"In the future, I can see players retiring earlier from international cricket so they can come to England for a few seasons at the end of their career. Also, I think talented youngsters will come here to serve their aprenticeship in county cricket.

Under the new system, counties will be permitted to replace their overseas choice should he be injured, called up for an overseas tour at short notice or be required to return home by his national board.

A maximum number of four overseas players will be able to be employed in a season, with a minimum three-week registration period for each one.

It has been speculated that counties will get around the one overseas player rule by recruiting yet more Kolpak players, but Newton doesn't see this as the way forward.

He said: "I don't think this ruling will lead to an increase in Kolpak players, in fact I think they have peaked now.

There have been very few Kolpak players who have came over here and had a big impact on a team.

We have been very lucky with Matt Mason, who came over here with an English passport, and Ray Price -- they have both been very good players for Worcestershire.

I think the fuss about Kolpak players is coming to an end, but there will always be a few in county cricket.

"At Worcestershire, we agree that it is better to go back to one overseas player and try and find a quality player who can be with us for the whole season.

"This will help develop the youngsters in our squad and we saw that last week when Daryl Mitchell came in for the injured Graeme Hick and hit a career-best 134 not out against Glamorgan."

Newton said employing just one overseas professional each year would free up more money for the club to invest in youth development.

He added: "It is possible we could bring in an extra academy coach to help bring through more youngsters, but even with just one overseas player, I don't think we need more than 10 or 12 youngsters in the academy -- it is a question of providing quality rather than quantity.

"We would be delighted if we could sign on just one player from the academy each year. Because of the limited population we have round here to draw upon for players, we will continue to focus on the Lancashire and Yorkshire regions to find quality 18 or 19-year-old cricketers."