HEREFORDSHIRE County Cricket Club will be seeking to replace two key individuals, one off and one on the pitch, when the 2004 season comes around.

Following on from the retirement of seamer Kevin Cooper, the county's record wicket-taker with 221 scalps during his seven seasons, comes the news that treasurer David Wood will be standing down at the annual meeting, to be held at the Imperial Hotel next Tuesday, starting at 8pm.

Wood, a local government officer, has been in office since the club's foundation in 1992.

The club will also seek nominations for the positions of fixture secretary and membership secretary as well as for general committee members.

Herefordshire met with a disappointing season in 2003, finishing seventh in the Western Division table with virtually the same side which won the section the previous season.

But better things are hoped for in 2004 when the season begins with a mouth-watering C & G Trophy tie against neighbouring Worcestershire at Luctonians' Mortimer Park ground in Kingsland on Wednesday, May 5.

The county's fixture list for the forthcoming season features the welcome reappearance of Kington as a venue. The border club will host Herefordshire's three-day clash with Devon, starting on June 27.

FIXTURES

Wednesday, May 5 v Worcestershire (C & G Trophy) at Luctonians; Sunday, May 23 - Tuesday, May 25 v Wiltshire at Colwall; Sunday, June 6 v Shropshire (MCCA KO Trophy, first round) at Colwall (to be confirmed); Sunday, June 13 - Tuesday, June 15 v Wales at Pontypridd or Swansea; Sunday, June 27 - Tuesday, June 29 v Devon at Kington; Sunday, July 11 - Tuesday, July 13 v Oxfordshire at Chesterton or Wormsley; Sunday, August 8 - Tuesday, August 10 v Dorset at Dean Park, Bournemouth; Sunday, August 22 - Tuesday, August 24 v Berkshire at Luctonians.

Subsequent rounds of the MCCA KO Trophy, subject to beating Shropshire, are scheduled as follows: Sunday, June 20 v Wiltshire at Brockhampton; Sunday, July 4 v Norfolk or Dorset (away); Sunday, August 15 - semi-final (home).