GARY Laycock has been bitten by the captaincy bug again just one year after stepping down as Colne's skipper.

The retirement of Nick Moulding meant that Laycock couldn't resist the opportunity to resume the role he filled from 1998 to 2001 - but he admits it wasn't just his decision to return.

"The lads in the team were asking me to do it," said Laycock. "I did miss it last year but when you've got your team mates telling you they want you to do it, it makes it all worthwhile. That twisted my arm for me.

"I suppose apart form Gary Hunt there weren't really that many candidates. I've done if for four years before and the majority of players wanted me to do it again so I'm looking forward to it."

Mark Higgins has been brought in as this year's pro, adding to the all round talent Colne already have in the likes of Laycock and last year's top run scorers and wicket taker Jeff Ellis.

Moulding's departure leaves a gap in the attack likely to be filled by 18-year-old Matthew Clarke.

John Lambert has returned form a two-year stint in Leeds to further boost a squad that harbours ambitions of a possible title challenge.

Laycock added: "We're going to throw Matthew in and give him a go, while John is a quality all rounder. I've got confidence in them both."

Neil Wilkinson, captain of champions Bacup, has forecast that Colne will be one of his side's main challengers to them claiming a fourth successive title.

But they will need to improve on the form of last year's eighth position and, according to Laycock, score more runs.

He said: "I hope we can be somewhere about challenging. We are a fairly young side but an experienced one as well.

"We need consistency. The lads were only scoring one in every three of four games last season and that's not good enough. The bowling and fielding has been good but the weakness was consistency with batting.

"But this is another year on and we're more experienced so I hope we can get that together."

Chairman Trevor Lonsdale has echoed his captain's assessment, saying: "Jeff Ellis got 600 runs last year, which he always gets, but the rest of the batsmen should be looking at 300.

"I think we can give it a push this year and finish quite high up, we've come close in the last few years.

"We've worked hard getting the ground in shape and we are doing well financially so overall we're not doing badly."

One of the most exciting times at The Horsfield this season will be in August when Colne hosts a floodlit competition.

The floodlights will be hired for a week and the World Cup flavour at the club is designed to attract families and new members.

Colne will compete in the tournament with Burnley, Nelson and Lowerhouse.