LANCASHIRE today handed Nick Speak the shock news that he would be allowed to leave the club.

Speak has a year of his current contract still to expire, but was told before the start of today's Championship game against Middlesex at Old Trafford that he could look for a new county.

A statement from Lancashire read: "In reviewing the county's playing staff the committee have decided to offer Nick Speak the opportunity of moving to another club where he could expect to have more prospects of First Eleven cricket.

"The committee are conscious that his first team opportunities have been limited because of the depth of talent at Old Trafford. "For someone who has served the club so loyally this has been a difficult decision and Lancashire will be sorry to lose a player who has always been committed and unselfish. Should Nick decide to leave it would be with the good wishes of everyone at the club."

Speak, a local lad born near to Old Trafford, made his Lancashire debut in 1987 and was awarded his cap in 1992 during a sensational season when he scored almost 2,000 runs including a career best 232 against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

He maintained an ever-present record in championship cricket until the game against Gloucestershire midway through last season, but this year he has missed four championship games, including today's, and been excluded from Lancashire's first choice one-day side, missing the Benson & Hedges Cup triumphs of the last two years and unlikely to play in Saturday's NatWest final. But the 29-year-old is sure to attract interest from a number of counties given his consistency in championship cricket.

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