Ainsdale hope a change in leadership can help freshen up the side following relegation from Division One.

A punishing 2023 yielded just two league wins, one on the final day after the drop had been confirmed. 

But new skipper Stuart Naden reckons morale is good ahead of the new season – thanks in part to his predecessor, Andy Barlow.

He said: “We’ve had a change of captaincy and vice-captaincy, just two different faces. 

“But we’re still going to have Andy around, he was so important in previous years, it’s invaluable to have his experience around the group. 

“Obviously, I’ll be leaning on him a bit as it’s my first year being captain.

“It was a difficult time at parts last year, but Andy managed to keep everyone going. 

“We’ve now got a good feel around the club.”

All-rounder Istiqlal Hanif returns after a year at Urmston in the Cheshire league, while Sri Lankan slow left-armer Dilanka Auwardt is this year’s overseas.

And another all-rounder, Danny Horne, joins from Bedford Park in Division Three of the Southport & District league – a big step up, but after 1,009 runs at 91.73 last year, one Naden thinks he’s ready for.

He said: “I’ve been really impressed with him. 

“He’s come from a lower level of cricket where he was playing with his mates, but this year he wanted a crack at a higher standard.

“He probably slots in at 7 or 8 in the 1st XI and he’s a handy bowler.”

With the experience of Barlow and Stephen Lucas on board, promotion must be somewhere on the agenda – but Naden is not setting targets.

He added: “There’s no real expectation to go and win the league, if we don’t get promoted it’s not the end of the world.

“It’s more about creating good morale and a decent mentality. 

“If we can do that, we’ll be difficult to beat. 

“But I just want to get the guys enjoying their cricket and playing with a smile on their faces.”