NELSON skipper Duncan Spencer today vowed to recruit a world class replacement for Roger Harper following his appointment as the new coach of the West Indies.

After months of uncertainty, Spencer finally found out this morning that Harper will not be returning to Seedhill this summer when he read about his new role as Malcolm Marshall's successor on Teletex.

But the Lancashire League club have already lined up two possible replacements and Spencer has revealed they hope to tie up a deal in the next fortnight.

"It's a massive shock to lose Roger," said Spencer.

"I know we'd half-expected it because he was the favourite for the job but until you see it in black and white it doesn't hit home.

"But it's a great achievement for Roger to be selected and I'm sure everybody at Nelson is delighted for him.

"Now we've got to concentrate on sorting out an alternative as quickly as possible because the new season starts in seven or eight weeks.

"But we've got a couple of people in mind who are world class replacements and we hope to have something sorted out in the next two weeks."

South African Lance Klusener and Australian Colin Miller have both been touted as possible replacements.

Meanwhile, West Indies Cricket board secretary Andrew Sealy confirmed Harper's contract will run for three years.

Jeffrey Dujon, once Harper's teammate, has been appointed assistant coach while Ricky Skerritt, a St Kitts businessman, is the new team manager.

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