SOUTH African spinner Claude Henderson will not be returning to East Lancs next season after accepting an offer to join Staffordshire club Porthill.

The 27-year-old slow left-armer had asked for time to mull over a new contract offer from the Transco Lancashire League club.

But the South African A team player has now closed the door on a third spell at Alexandra Meadows after deciding to make the move into the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire Premier League.

"We've been after him for quite a few years now," said Porthill skipper Dave Cotton.

"I played against him at Wolverhampton and thought he was an incredible player. Every club he's been at has spoken very highly of him so I expect him to get a lot of wickets."

Henderson made an explosive impact in his debut season with East Lancs, snapping up 106 wickets to lead the team to the Worsley Cup final and the Holland Cup.

And he took a raft of wickets again last season but that failed to bring the title.

East Lancs chairman of selectors Larry Pearson has been frantically trying to contact Henderson to clarify the situation but has been unable to reach him.

The club are thought to be lining up Australian left-arm spinner Brad Young, a former professional at the club, as a replacement.