Jones takes charge at Whitchurch and Serplet steps up at Sentinel

Jones takes over from Simon Dimelow-Till, who has joined North Staffs side Nantwich

And Jones has made a couple of smart-looking additions to bolster an already talented squad with spinner Ryan Brown joining from Pelsall and seamer Kash Hussain from Penkridge.

But there are no bold predictions coming from the Whitchurch camp.

“Some people might look at us as one of the favourites but we are not going to be making any bold predictions,” said chairman Iain Marsh. “We have a good side on paper but you have to go out there and perform.

“This is a very competitive division and every week will be a test.”

“The aim is to finish as high as possible and to also bring through some of our young talented players and give them experience of playing in the first team.”

Mal Serplet has returned to the lead role at Sentinel.

And the experienced Serplet will be looking for some of the club’s youngsters to grab their opportunity following a number of winter departures.

Opening bowler Andy Harrison and batsman Craig Heath have stepped up to the Birmingham League with Wem while David Laird (Oswestry), Tom Matthews (Allscott), Joe Yapp and Callum Marsh (both Cound) have also moved on.

On the way in to Sentinel is all-rounder James Shaw, who has played for Shifnal in the past and has returned to the area to teach at Wrekin College, while the club are hoping South African Kyle Klein will be given the green light to play.

“Mal has taken up the captaincy again, which is great because he has been successful doing it in the past,” said committee member Ed Ashlin.”

“We are hopefully Kyle Klein will join us.

“He is a South African, but he has a Dutch passport so our understanding is that he will be alright to come into the country.

“He has played Holland u19s and has been over before. When he was younger he schooled at Wrekin College and played for Shifnal.”