IN-form Australian Daniel Salpietro will not be returning to Rishton for a third season – and at least two other Foster’s Lancashire League clubs will be looking for new professionals for the 2014 campaign.

The 25-year-old Victorian made an immediate impact at Blackburn Road when he arrived for his first season in the league last year and is once again on song with almost 800 runs and 43 wickets to his name.

But he has decided to look elsewhere and Colne and Lowerhouse will also be in the market for new paid men with South Africans Shadley van Schalkwyk and Francois Haasbroek moving on.

Spinner Salpietro admitted to feeling the force of history when he arrived at Blackburn Road last year as he followed in the footsteps of greats of the game like Johnny Wardle, Michael Holding, Peter Sleep and Allan Donald.

“When I came here I was walking around the club before my first meeting with the committee as I was a little early,” said Salpietro.

“I was looking at all the pictures of the past professionals on the wall.

“I was looking at the pictures of Donald, Holding, Richards, Greg Blewitt – and many others who I have missed from that list – that are up on the wall and you think ‘Blimey, Dan Salpietrio is going to be up there along side them’.

“You think ‘will I fit in here’ – but it shows you all of the history about the place and of the Lancashire League.

“You look at the pictures and you do feel the pressure to succeed and you do wonder if you’ll fit in.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be up there in the same class as any of those great guys from the past – but all I want is that I do a good job.

“When I step away from Rishton I want to be remembered for the right reasons among all those names on the wall, albeit I will be at the bottom end of the list.”

Salpietro’s brilliant 90 not out helped Rishton to a stunning win over high-flying Enfield on Sunday and displays like that highlight why he is such a popular figure around Blackburn Road and he certainly enjoyed the rough and tumble of the Lancashire League.

“It’s a great league,” he said. “I love playing against competitive cricketers and sometimes I do try to get a little bit out of them as well.

“Having a few words is an Aussie culture thing. I do smile out in the middle because that’s the way you have to play – but sometimes it burns inside when things are going wrong.”

“In my job you get the opportunity to travel the world and it is a fantastic opportunity for anyone.

“You don’t have to be the best player in your country to go across the world.”

Haasbroek was always unlikely to be returning as he is not playing First Class cricket back home, although there is a possibility he could return to England in the future.

And the departure of van Schalkwyk will leave a big hole for Colne.

The pace ace has been a massive hit at The Horsfield, although his performances have not been mirrored by results and Colne are bottom of the table and are the only team in the league yet to win a match.