Jekon Edness has decided to stay with Somerset Cricket Club and help the team return to the Premier Division.

Edness had been tempted to return to his former club Western Stars and play under coach Wendell Smith, but felt staying at Somerset was the right thing to do after they got relegated under his captaincy last season.

Although he will remain at Somerset for one more season, the captaincy is not part of the deal, said Edness who resigned his post at the end of last season after five years in the job.

“As far as the captaincy goes I haven’t spoken to anybody [at the club],” Edness, 32, said.

“They went down under my captaincy and I feel it is only right I help bring them back up to the Premier Division where Somerset belong.

“Once that’s done then I think I’ll go back [to Stars], I just don’t want to leave just like that. I’ve spent ten years at Somerset and a lot of time and hard work has been put in.

“Cup Match is another story. I want to play and never said I was retiring from Cup Match. I just said I didn’t think I want to do it as captain anymore.

“I felt if a new captain was coming it is best that he comes in with Somerset having the cup. It’s a different ball game going down to St George’s with a new captain and with the cup.”

Edness also feels he has an obligation to coach Jeff Richardson whom he talked into taking the post at Somerset.

“I begged Jeff to come and coach Somerset because we were without a coach and he came to Somerset on the strength of me asking him,” Edness said.

However, the idea of going back to Stars and playing with them in their first season back up appealed to Edness.

“I spoke to Wendell yesterday, we had a quiet word,” he said.

“I just can’t leave Somerset after taking them down under my captaincy. I know it’s going to upset a lot of people.

“I would have liked to work with Wendell, he’s a good coach and an excellent player in his day and knows a lot about the game. I asked him if he was still going to be there next year.

“Whoever is captain [at Somerset] I’m still going to support and give 100 per cent.

“Things didn’t work out towards the end of last season which is why we got relegated and I just want to right that wrong first and then move back and finish off at Stars.”

Smith had hoped Edness, Jacobi Robinson and Treadwell Gibbons would return to Stars for their first season back in the top flight.

He admits it will be tough to survive in a division that will be reduced to six teams this season.

Smith has already said Stars will need to attract some new players if they are to be competitive.

“I’m hoping there are players who are very serious about their cricket who may be thinking about transferring from their current club and would like to join a programme that is well structured,” Smith said.

“There could be players who feel they are in a situation that is not benefiting them.

“At Stars I feel the players’ success last year was due a lot to their commitment to training.”

Smith warns that training at Stars, which started with weekly sessions at the Athletic Club, is “very intense”.

“But if there are players who want to improve their game and challenge their skill level it may be a viable option for them.”

Smith said Stars have several things that make their programme attractive, including full support from the administration, a well-prepared pitch that is used for training, players committed to training on a regular basis, and a strong emphasis on both team and individual development.

Stars are training every Wednesday evening at the Athletic club starting at 7.30pm and any players interested in joining the programme are asked to sign in at the desk.