As Bailey's Bay make final preparations to win back the Eastern Counties Cup, they have decided there's no room for long-serving veteran Noel Gibbons. ..at least not as a player.

Gibbons' name was conspicuous by its absence from the team list to face champions St. David's in the second round of the competition at Sea Breeze Oval tomorrow.

And it would now seem that the County career of arguably the best all-rounder Bermuda has seen over the past three decades is over.

Last year saw Gibbons record 30 years of County participation, as he top-scored for Bay with 58 in the club's four-wicket loss to the Islanders, moving his record all-time aggregate to 1,419 runs. He also leaves having taken a total of 95 wickets.

"Noel's been a great warrior for the club for a lot of years and his time has come,'' said Nolan Walker, Bay's chairman of selectors.

"In fact, he, himself announced two years ago that that was his final County game and because of our situation last year with the players, that was the real reason he played then.

"We don't see where it's going to be a problem with Noel.'' Indeed, Gibbons announced in 1998 that he had played his last Eastern Counties competition, only to return a year ago after an internal dispute left Bay somewhat depleted.

Still, Gibbons, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, will have a role with the squad as coach, a position he has occupied all season while also playing for the league side.

Overall Bay have made five changes to the side that failed a year ago, with Cal Dill, Corey Hill, Ricky Hill and Glenn Blakeney returning following self-imposed exile and Jermaine Warner included as a colt.

Further irony surrounds Blakeney, as the explosive early-order bat will take to the pitch against the team he turns out for each Sunday afternoon. Yet he promised to offer no favours.

"They (St. David's) knew from the beginning that I was eligible to play for Bay...it's not a problem, it's all about playing cricket,'' said Blakeney, who is however nursing a sore left hamstring.

"I really don't think I'll feel any way once I step on the field. It's about playing cricket. Once off the field it's a different story.'' Walker agreed, noting how Blakeney had been groomed by and played most of his cricket for Bay. "We consider Glenn to be very much a part of our Bay team.

Glenn has played all of his cricket at Bay,'' said Walker.

Bailey's Bay: Charlie Marshall (captain), Ricky Hill, Jermaine Warner (colt), Glenn Blakeney, Irving Romaine, Cal Dill, Stephen Outerbridge, Clarkie Trott, Corey Hill, Dennis Pilgrim, Anthony Braithwaite. Reserves: Burton Outerbridge, Christine Smith, Kujon Simons.

Noel Gibbons: Exclusion from Bay's team to meet cup champions St. David's on Saturday would appear to have signalled the end of his long and distinguished Eastern Counties career.