POTTERNE chairman Fred Kerley has labelled the capture of former Gloucestershire ace Ed Young as “a real coup’’ for the village club.

Right-hander Young will help to spearhead the club’s batting next summer as the club take on the challenge of Wadworth 6X West of England League Premier Two.

Young, 24, was released by Gloucestershire this autumn, with Potterne stepping in immediately to bring him on board to add to the squad that won the WEPL Glos/Wilts Division in thrilling fashion in August.

Kerley said the capture of Young was a significant boost which came in the wake of learning that they would not be able to re-sign prolific batsman Tom Cullen for 2014.

Despite holding a British passport, time Cullen spent in New Zealand counted against him and he was classified as an overseas player for 2014, with Potterne already having Sri Lankan Sahan Wijerathne within their ranks.

Kerley said: “Following our promotion we’ve looked at where we needed to strengthen and we were disappointed not to be able to resign Tom, although we hope we can again in the future.

“We have a very young side and wanted the experience of a top-order batsman. Once we knew Ed had become available, we started negotiations.

“He’ll probably open our batting but he’s no mean bowler either. Getting Ed is a coup for us.’’

Young, who bats right-handed but bowls left-arm spin, signed for Gloucestershire during the 2010 season after impressing for Oxford University, for whom he made his first-class début against Worcestershire in 2009.

He scored 471 runs in ten innings for the county, including 133 as captain against Lancashire in 2011 and was a one-day specialist for Gloucestershire before later emerging in the four-day game, boasting a first-class batting average of 33.84 and taking 15 first-class wickets.

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