Yorkshire rule out move to bring back Sidebottom

Chief executive Stewart Regan said Yorkshire plan to stick with their policy of fielding young players, which has helped them to the summit of the County Championship First Division and to the top of Group B of the Clydesdale Bank 40 League.

Sussex have made an official approach for the 32-year-old left-armer, who left Yorkshire for Trent Bridge in 2003.

Sidebottom's availability is sure to attract plenty of interest, but Regan said Yorkshire had not considered chasing his signature.

"We hadn't even realised Ryan was out of contract until we read it in the press," said Regan. "We haven't looked at him and have no intention of going down that route. It's nothing against Ryan because he's a great guy and a good player.

"But he's not someone we see fitting into the Yorkshire squad."

Sidebottom, who played 54 first-class games for Yorkshire, taking 163 wickets at 25.13, would hope to command a sizeable salary.

The Huddersfield-born seamer, who has not played Test cricket since January, is likely to lose his central contract at the end of the summer, putting greater financial strain on his employers.

Yorkshire – 18m in debt – effectively have no alternative but to go down the road of playing their youngsters, which has so far paid big dividends.

Former England all-rounder Anthony McGrath is the only current Yorkshire player in his 30s, with fellow thirty-somethings Matthew Hoggard and Deon Kruis having left the club at the end of last season.

"We've been delighted with the way our young players have performed this year," added Regan.

"Hats off to our director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon and our captain Andrew Gale for turning round a bottom-end Championship performance into what will hopefully be a top-three finish.

"Our view is that we've got some very talented teens and 20-year-olds coming through, and we've made a very clear statement by releasing players in their 30s that we're all about youth. We don't need to be spending big salaries on players in their 30s, and we can't afford those salaries in any case."

Yorkshire's pace bowling department has been boosted this year by the performances of Steve Patterson and Oliver Hannon-Dalby, which have complemented the efforts of England stars Ajmal Shahzad and Tim Bresnan.

Tino Best has been a disappointment in his role as the club's replacement overseas player, but with leg-spinner Adil Rashid having rediscovered his form following an unhappy spell with England, Yorkshire have looked a threat with the ball.

"Our performances in the Twenty20 Cup were disappointing, but apart from that it's gone really well," said Regan.

"We're in really strong positions in the Championship and the 40-over competition. Hopefully, we can continue our good form until the end of the season and, who knows, land some silverware."

Nottinghamshire, whom Yorkshire meet in a potentially vital Championship title showdown at Headingley Carnegie next Tuesday, are hopeful Sidebottom will stay at Trent Bridge. They have given him a deadline of the middle of next month to determine where his future lies.

Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, said: "I think we have been good for him, as well as him being good for us. He is, of course, entitled to look around to see what is on offer, but he knows we want him here."