Paul Hutchison has already attracted the attention of several counties since being told by coach Wayne Clark that he no longer figures in Yorkshire's first team plans.

Warwickshire's coach Bob Woolmer knows a good thing when he sees it and so does departing Lancashire supremo Bobby Simpson, Australia's former captain.

Their clubs are just two to have shown an early interest and others are bound to follow before the season is out.

Although Hutchison still has over a year to run on his contract and has been named in the squad to face Lancashire in the Championship starting today, Yorkshire's decision to release him at the end of the summer is proof that Ryan Sidebottom has finally won the battle over which of the two players would go on to become the team's preferred choice of left arm swing bowler.

It was a battle which neither of them really wanted or would admit to fighting but there was never going to be room for both of them in the side together.

In the end, 23-year-old Sidebottom has come out on top over his slightly older colleague - a cricket decision which is bound to disappoint Yorkshire chairman Keith Moss who is also president of the Pudsey club.

No doubt it has all come as a big shock to Hutchison but he should not worry too much about his future because he still enjoys a reputation for being one of the best left-arm swingers around and provided he can maintain his fitness he can still go on to achieve greatness elsewhere.

A move, in fact, could be the best thing that has happened to him over the last couple of very difficult years.

Clark is not out of order in deciding which of the two bowlers he wants to stay at Headingley but the manner in which Hutchison has been handled this season seems to have been a bit insensitive.

As I wrote a few weeks ago, he has been shunned even when Yorkshire have had good reason to play him and the writing has appeared to be on the wall for some time.

Clark may have been told when he took up his appointment in the spring that he would have to prune back his playing staff by the end of the season.

Other players may also feel their futures to be under threat with James Middle-brook, Ian Fisher and Simon Widdup all springing readily to mind.

Hutchison's demise with Yorkshire, which started with a long lay-off because of a stress fracture in his back, should serve as a warning to new bowling sensation Steven Kirby that to be straight out of the blocks with one's career does not necessarily mean staying ahead of the pack.

Kirby has roared on to the scene this season in dramatic manner and although his introduction to Yorkshire cricket may be unique his bowling prowess in his first few matches was at least equalled by Hutchison when he first started out.

Hutchison's first class career with Yorkshire began almost unnoticed on the club's pre-season tour of Zimbabwe in the early spring of 1996 and although he collected a total of 11 wickets in the two matches against Mashonaland and Matabeleland he did not surface again until the closing weeks of the 1997 season when he got his chance because of an injury crisis.

On his first class debut on home soil he attracted attention by snatching match figures of 11 for 102 against Pakistan 'A' at Headingley before moving on to Portsmouth for his Championship debut against Hampshire when he captured seven for 50 in the first innings, figures which Kirby was to match on his first appearance against Kent.

Hutchison's dynamic form continued up to the end of the season by which time he had grabbed 37 first class wickets in seven matches at an average of 20.02 runs apiece.

Sidebottom also appeared for the first time that season but less spectacularly, taking three for 71 on his Championship debut against Leicestershire at Grace Road and picking up one wicket for 103 runs in three Sunday League outings.

But when Hutchison later went down with serious back problems, Sidebottom seized his opportunity and has remained in the driving seat, partly because Yorkshire have never convinced themselves that Hutchison is quite the same bowler now that he has been forced to change his action.

Yet he has generally done well in his all too infrequent first team games and his record with the Second XI this year has been quite outstanding.

His current tally of first class wickets for Yorkshire is 137 at 22.20 runs apiece and with figures like those he should be able to demand a pay packet at least equal to what he is getting at present.