Andy Baybutt is prepared for a season of transition at Orrell Red Triangle, having bid farewell to some key players.

Wicketkeeper Richard Everett has moved to Netherfield in the Northern Premier, while opening batter Luke Prescott and seamer Dom Hayes have been given Premier Division chances by Leigh and Rainford respectively.

Baybutt accepts there are gaps, but is looking forward to seeing whether some of his fringe players can plug them.

“We’ve had a massive transition,” he said.

“Obviously there are massive holes to fill. 

“But I feel like I can take a bit of a bigger role myself, and bring some of the young lads from the second team in.”

Teenage batter Logan Pallet is one who Baybutt thinks is ready for the step up. 

And Matty Aggrey – signed from Comp champions Ormskirk – is another, having taken seven wickets against Northern on his 1st XI league debut in the last game of last season.

Baybutt, himself a former Ormskirk man with more than 8,000 career league runs, still wants to get his side back to the Premier Division, which they exited in 2023.

He said: “I still have ambitions to challenge as high as we can in the league but I’m not putting too much pressure on in terms of promotion. 

“It’s an opportunity to develop these young lads and make sure the club is in a good state for years to come. 

“We want to win every game but we understand some weeks might not be our week – we’ll just train hard and go again the week after.”

His job will be made a little easier by the return of Dileepa Jayalath, the Sri Lankan slow left-armer who took 75 league scalps for Orrell in the top flight in 2022. 

“He was really interested in coming back so when we found out nobody had snapped him up, it was like it was meant to be,” Baybutt added.

“But I really want to make it an environment that doesn’t just rely on the pro. 

“He’ll be bowling the bulk of the middle overs, but I won’t be opening with him and using him from one end all day.”