Beyond salvation

There were rumblings of discontent in the valleys when the county decided not to sign another overseas player when Matthew Elliott was ruled out for the season after a knee operation. It compounded the loss of Mike Kasprowicz to the Australian Ashes party and the departure of Matthew Maynard to the England coaching staff. But Mike Fatkin, the county's chief executive, insists that the complaints are unrealistic.

"If we could have signed someone who would have transformed our season, fair enough. But the knockout trophies had gone, the Championship position was irreversible and there was only a slight chance of success in the totespsort League.

"In addition to losing those three, you can't replace players of the calibre of Steve James, Adrian Dale and Steve Watkin. We are a generation behind. On top of that, injuries to Alex Wharf and David Harrison have meant others have had to pitch in. Everyone should be patient because it's going to take two or three years to build a new team and there are no short-term solutions.

"The county has been in this position before and come through. We believe we represent Wales and to that end we want to build success with Welsh players, not buy it. Everyone at the club accepts that it's been a disappointing season but things can only get better." Even Dewi the Dragon, Glamorgan's mascot, fell at the first in the annual race at the Twenty20 final.

Moment of the month Having Alex Wharf fit again, after a nagging rib injury.