Veteran all-rounder Clevie Wade has been named new player-coach of the Southampton Rangers' cricket team for the coming season.

And Wade has wasted no time getting stuck into to his new job by making Rangers the first local club to start indoor conditioning training. Players began working out two weeks ago.

Outgoing coach Randy Raynor, clearly unperturbed over being replaced by Wade after holding down the post for several years, confirmed the coaching change this week.

Named the assistant to Wade, Raynor assured that he would be giving the new coach his full support during the coming season.

"I will be there in his corner and backing him up 100 percent in my new role.

I can assure you that Clevie and our skipper Olin Jones will get the support from me that they deserve,'' said Raynor.

"I am not upset about being replaced. I had success and my record is one that I am extremely pleased with, it's as simple as that. I am a team player, I'll always give Southampton Rangers my full support.'' The appointment of Wade is the second major coaching change made so far for the coming season. The other one saw St. George's skipper Clay Smith moving over to neighbouring St. David's as their player-coach.

Wade last played for Southampton four seasons ago before going back to St.

George's where he started out as a youth player. He has played only a handful of games over the last two seasons because of a nagging knee injury.

Raynor said that the early start to the season for Southampton was something the new coach wanted and most of the players supported it.

"It's been well accepted, it's good to be able to get the programme underway so early. It's clear that the players are hungry after a good season and they have been talking cricket all during the winter and are anxious to get things rolling,'' said Raynor.

"We are hungry coming off a solid season when we won the Western Counties title, the Champion of Champions trophy and achieved promotion from the Second Division in limited-overs play. It was a very successful season and now we are hoping for even further success this time around.'' Raynor expects most of his regulars to be back this season to feature in the Southampton squad, but a few new additions are expected as one or two established players are showing an interest in joining their ranks.

Raynor firmly believed the team could become a major force with their current crop of players, though he pointed out their batting was somewhat limited last season.

"We just want everybody to rally behind Clevie who will be joining us with new ideas that we believe will add momentum to our overall programme,'' said Raynor.

Clevie Wade: Putting Rangers players through their paces well ahead of the season's start.