LOWERHOUSE are facing a race against the clock to land an overseas professional in time for the start of the 1997 Lancashire League season.

The Liverpool Road side had made South African batsman Mark Rindel their number one choice after popular Australian Shawn Flegler was refused a work permit last month.

But the Northern Transvaal all-rounder has decided to play in Scotland after agreeing a deal with a club from Edinburgh.

With the season due to start a week on Sunday, that leaves Lowerhouse facing a desperate search for a pro.

"Time is against us but we are pursuing a number of avenues," confirmed a club spokesman.

"We had hoped to secure the services of Mark Rindel but he will be playing elsewhere now."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.