BURNLEY'S new pro Pierre Joubert is the man to continue the good work started last season by fellow countryman Dale Benkenstein.

The Turf Moor club finished a lofty fourth in the Transco Lancashire League last season after finishing bottom the previous season.

They wanted Benkenstein back for another year but the South African has taken up a coaching job with the Canadian national side.

But Burnley team manager Michael Anderson, the man responsible for bringing the new pro Joubert to Turf Moor, hopes his new South African can be just as successful as the last.

Joubert, who is just 23 and has played the last four seasons for Huddersfield League side Delph, has told Anderson that he is looking forward to the opportunity to test himself in a better standard of league.

"We were looking on the internet at various players and when we heard about Pierre we contacted (Enfield pro) Martin van Jaarsveld, who plays in the same team as him in South Africa, and asked him what he was like.

"We asked him for his opinion and he spoke very highly of him. He said he was a promising character and as a person he comes highly recommended.

"We also contacted Delph and they said similar things.

"We was the type of player we were looking for. He bats at number five or six for Northern Transvaal and bowls first or second.

"We'd like to think he is a true all-rounder but his bowling is particularly strong."

Joubert, a right arm fast medium bowler and right-hand bat, is a former South Africa Under 19.

"He is hard-hitting batsman from what I can gather. I have spoken to him and he seems keen to come and carry on the good work and the progress we made last season with Dale Benkenstein when we finished fourth after finishing bottom the season before that.

"We are hoping to build on that progress, although Pierre is not as good a batsman as Dale was, but he is a better bowler."

Benkenstein turned down the chance to return to Turf Moor in favour of a coaching position with the Canadian national team.

"Dale decided to take that up and he'll be in Canada for two months of the summer, which would have made it impossible to come here too."

Anderson reckons champions Bacup - who have taken the Lancashire league title for the past two seasons - will be hot favourites to lift it again, pushed hard by East Lancs and Haslingden.

"I am hoping we can push for the top two or three as well although I think Bacup will be strong again," he said.

"East Lancs of course will be pushing for the title and I think Haslingden will be strong because Graham Knowles has gone back there."