Welch shoulders heavy burden

Championship Division 2 Nat League Division 2 Captain Graeme Welch Coach David Houghton Overseas Players Michael Di Venuto Travis Birt Mohammad Yousuf In Andy Gray Steffan Jones James Pipe Chris Taylor Graham Wagg Out Chris Bassano James Bryant James Chapman Travis Friend Paul Havell Jon Moss Ben Spendlove Luke Sutton

Revolving door
It is whirring at county cricket's last-chance saloon. After two years hedged in by existing contracts David Houghton has released nine players, including four regulars: captain Luke Sutton plus Jon Moss, Chris Bassano and Travis Friend, three imports from a brittle middle order. In come Graham Wagg after a year-long drugs ban, the occasionally brilliant but ofteninjured seamer Steffan Jones and Chris Taylor, who averaged 17 for Yorkshire. Having begun the winter chasing Test giants as second overseas player, Derbyshire ended it with Travis Birt, an obscure but heavy-scoring Tasmanian.

Winter wonderland
Shady trees, enthusiastic crowds and a warm buzz: after eight years Chesterfield is back (see page 58). The sincere hope is that a week in less depressing conditions will rekindle enthusiasm. "It was an absolute must," says Houghton. So was restricting financial losses and last year's trading deficit of £148,019 was better than expected.

Strengths
A clear plan: sign experienced players to get results; gradually bring talented youngsters into a winning side. (Derbyshire provided four of the 24 hopefuls at last season's England Under-17 trials.)

Weaknesses
Tools to execute the plan. The county lack the resources to lure quality. And wins require strike bowlers. Cannot again rely on Graeme Welch taking 58 Championship wickets through force of will. Forget Bishop, Malcolm and Cork: Derbyshire would be grateful for another Ole Mortensen.

Best-case scenario
Welch's enthusiasm and the plan to field nine England-qualified players conjure a team spirit that alchemises the whole into more than the sum of its parts.

Worst-case scenario
Welch again gets flogged half to death and injuries get out of hand, leaving the teenagers to make up numbers in a series of dolorous drubbings. And the team coach (an economy measure) breaks down.

Knees up: but how much longer will Kevin Dean's stand up? © Getty Images

Young one to watch
Wagg. Still only 23 and perhaps the only current player you can picture in an England sweater.

Key man
Kevin Dean. His dodgy knee will be asked to hump much weight. Who else will take the wickets?

What they say
"I want us to be winning," says Houghton. "For the first two years it's easy to say we're building. But you can only have L-plates on yourself for so long."

Mark Wagh
Have failed to shake off perennial underdogs tag but will the shrewd Houghton and new captain Welch make this the year that Derbyshire finally make forward progress? I think so and expect some decent oneday form. Not sure they have enough quality to challenge in the Championship.

Predictions County Championship 6th (D2) Pro40 5th (D2)
Odds 33/1. Click here for full odds and to place your bet.