OSWALDTWISTLE Immanuel skipper Gerard Metcalf has one aim this season - to get off the bottom.
Immanuel managed just three wins last season and propped up the league.
And this season they have lost their two young opening bowlers in the captain's son Andrew Metcalf who has moved into the Lancashire League with Church and Kurt Smithson, who has switched to fellow Ribblesdale League side Baxenden.
They have, however, retained the services of Pakistan paid-man Ahmer Saeed, who came in last season to replace Raja Ali who returned early to India.
"From a club point of view it is difficult to lose Andrew but personally, it is the right move for him as he is ambitious and he wants to progress and play at the highest level he can," said Gerard who has been captain for eight of the last ten years.
"And it is disappointing to lose Kurt but we have added one or two experienced players to the side including Steve Juliff and Danny Greenwood from Accrington along with Michael and Matthew Brandon who used to play in the junior ranks with us.
"And we have a pro from the start of the season which is something we haven't had for a couple of seasons - they have missed some part of it in the past."
He continued: "We have lost players but our aim is just to finish off the bottom in the league. Last year was disappointing after we did so well the year before and had our highest ever number of points since we came into the league.
"Then we slipped back down and now we have lost our two opening bowlers so I am sure most people will have us as favourites to finish at the bottom.
"Hopefully we will prove everyone wrong if we keep working hard and if we finish halfway up the league it will be a successful season. But we need a good start. We lost some close matches last season and it knocked our confidence so we need to get some points on the board early on and perhaps aim for a good run in the cup."
He tips local rivals Great Harwood to be the title favourites.
"I think they have one of the best pros in the league and I think he will take some stopping. Their pro didn't do that well last year but they were still up there so I think they will do well."
