Ian Botham back at the County Ground to welcome Nixon McLean to Somerset

Ian Botham was back at the County Ground in Taunton earlier today in his new role of personal cricket adviser to Club Chairman Giles Clarke.

In announcing the appointment Mr Clarke said: "We are fortunate to have the greatest cricketing icon involved with Somerset. It is my ambition to make this club successful both on the field and financially, and Ian's role as my personal cricket adviser will help us achieve this goal. His support has already proved invaluable in our new membership recruitment drive."

Botham, who is probably the finest cricketer ever to have played for the Cidermen, said that he wanted to see Somerset back where they belonged at the top of the tree, and was delighted to be able to play his part in achieving this.

He said: "I have got a stand named after me here at the County Ground and have got fifteen years of great memories at Somerset County Cricket Club. It's where I grew up along with the likes of Viv Richards, Peter Denning and Vic Marks, and there is a lot of me here at Somerset."

Reflecting on his years at Taunton he said: "It was a great,great time to be here at the club . We had fanatical support, and we were the club that everybody came to try to beat, and we want to be that again."

What was his actual role going to be. "In the course of a year I see a lifetime of cricket and will become the eyes and ears of the county as I travel around the county circuit and internationally so I can offer advice on new players," he said.

He added: "This has always been the best pitch in the country, and the support down here has always been magnificent. The fans deserve a dominating team to support."

One of Botham's fomer team mates Vic Marks, who is now Chairman of Cricket at Somerset said: "Ian was a fantastic player and played his best cricket whilst he was here at Taunton. It's great to see him back involved with the club."

One of the first jobs that the great man undertook was to welcome West Indian Test bowler Nixon McLean to the club.

Twenty nine year old McLean, who has appeared in 19 Test Matches for his country, has been signed by the county as their second overseas player for 2003, and joins a pace attack that will include England test star Andy Caddick and Richard Johnson.

Standing out in the sunshine in his new Somerset kit he told me: "It's definitely good to be here, and Taunton is certainly living up to its reputation of being a very friendly town. The weather has been unbelievable and I hope it's a good omen for the coming season."

I asked him what he was hoping for this season. "The county were in Division One last season and the guys here are not happy to in Division Two this year, so my goal is to help Somerset get back to the top division," he told me.

Just before rushing of to join his new team mates who are currently playing against Hampshire at The Rosebowl he gave me a message for all Somerset fans. "Please tell them that I am excited and very happy to be here, and I hope that everyone will come along and support us this season."