A SOUTH African A team tour to the West Indies which threatened to rob East Lancs of the services of professional Claude Henderson has now been scrapped.

Henderson, who made a massive impact during his first season at Alexandra Meadows last summer, was set to miss up to six weeks during May and June if the tour had gone ahead.

But East Lancs officials breathed a sigh of relief last night when they found out the trip has now been cancelled.

"The situation had concerned us a little bit because we hadn't heard any official announcement," said East Lancs spokesman Larry Pearson.

"But I spoke to someone from Morecambe last night to arrange a pre-season friendly and their professional Ashwell Prince, who was also likely to be going on the tour, had phoned on Tuesday to tell them it had been called off."

Lowerhouse professional Martin Van Jaarsveld may also have been affected had the trip gone ahead as planned.

Meanwhile, veteran campaigner Jan Van Boeckel will not be available to help spearhead East Lancs' charge next season after starting a new job away from the area.

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