CHELSTON & Kingskerswell will want to concentrate on the cricket rather than problems off the pitch after the season starts with a trip to Chagford.

The club has been trying for more than three years to get a long lease on their main ground at Torre Valley North in Torquay – and seems to be getting nowhere fast.

Behind the scenes a row has been bubbling away for weeks with landlords Torbay Council over the proposed new rent for Torre Valley North. It is unlikely to be resolved until July.

Chelston felt league reorganisation hindered them last season as they were ‘promoted’ into a division mostly made up of clubs they thought they had left behind.

Having achieved a second promotion as runners-up behind Countess Wear, Chelston are looking forward to the challenge in C Division West.

“It is a division with lots of local sides in it so every couple of weeks we have a derby,” said chairman and captain Mark Faulkner.

New to the team sheet this year is Lachlan Willaton, an 18-year-old batting leg-spinner from Brisbane.

Back in the camp are Phil Lacey after a summer with Abbotskerswell and batter James Windeatt, whose last regular cricket was played some time ago at South Devon.

One interesting signing is that of batsman Jason Parr, who has played Premier cricket for Heathcoat in the past. He was with Tiverton last season but has opted for an 80-mile round trip to home games this summer.

Missing at the start of the season is veteran batsman Graham Webster, who is currently doing volunteer work at a nunnery in New Zealand.