Watkinson signs new Lancashire contract

Lancashire's coach Mike Watkinson has signed a contract extension which will keep him at Old Trafford until the end of the 2009 season. Watkinson who has been with the club since 1982 and captained Lancashire to three trophies in the 1990s is in his fifth season as cricket manager.

"There is a fine balance at Lancashire between trying to ensure immediate success and building for the future, that is something we have worked hard and carefully to achieve and this season has seen we are on the right track," he said. "The Lancashire ECB Academy is well established, we continue to be the best at producing players for England at all levels, and we have a highly competitive squad with a great team spirit. Now we can carry on in the same vein and hopefully reap the rewards over the next few years."

"We are delighted that Mike has accepted this opportunity to take the club forward," said Jim Cumbes, the county's chief executive. "When he was first appointed, he became our first full time cricket manager with the responsibility of looking at our whole cricketing set up and pulling it together. We believe that he has done a great job."