Yorkshire captain Darren Lehmann's increased involvement with Australia could leave him with insufficient time to play for the county next season.

Yorkshire coach Wayne Clark said he would be discussing the Lehmann situation with club officials once he had a clearer idea of what the player's international commitments would be next year.

The uncertainty over Lehmann's future has made it even more urgent for Clark to groom a new captain who will be ready to step into the Australian's shoes.

"The original idea was that in a couple of year's time we would have prepared someone to take over the role but we may now have to bring things forward," said Clark.

"I will have to sit down with the Yorkshire committee and work out the direction we are to go in."When Yorkshire paid off David Byas and appointed Lehmann as captain at the end of last season it seemed that his international career was over and that he would be able to concentrate fully on Yorkshire cricket during the summer months.

"But since then Lehmann has won back his place in Australia's Test side and he is also a key member of their squad for the World Cup in South Africa next February.

"If he looks as if he will be missing from Yorkshire for long periods of time next season it may be a situation which cannot let happen," said Clark.

"It is an issue which Darren could not have anticipated last year, but his return to Australia's ranks came out of the blue and he may have to re-assess how his career is going.

"There are one or two Yorkshire players who we might consider for the captaincy but so far they have not managed to settle into the first team on a regular basis."

Clark did not rule out the possibility that either Darren Gough or Craig White could be candidates for the captaincy.

"Their situation may change with England and if they should become free of international commitments they may be considered," he said.

The problem there, however, is that England are unlikely to shelve either of them until after the World Cup is over and Yorkshire need to make some firm decision on a leader before then.

"Another option Clark may recommend is to give the captaincy to Australian left-hander Simon Katich who will replace Lehmann in the Yorkshire side whenever Lehmann is unavailable this season.

Katich takes over from Lehmann for three weeks in June during Australia's series of three one-day home internationals against Pakistan.

Also next season, two overseas players will be allowed in county cricket and Yorkshire have yet to decide whether they want - or can afford - to go down that avenue.

Updated: 08:59 Monday, May 27, 2002