Yorkshire left-arm fast bowler Paul Hutchison is all set to quit his native county at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old paceman, brought up with Bradford League club Pudsey St Lawrence, has been told by Yorkshire coach Wayne Clark that he does not figure in his plans for the first team.

And Hutchison has been given permission to approach other counties to see if they are interested in his services.

Yorkshire, however, strongly denied that Hutchison was being released. "Contracts have not been discussed yet and no decisions made," said chief executive Chris Hassell.

But Hutchison confirmed his present situation and said that he hoped to be putting himself in the shop window with some good performances for the second team during the remainder of the season.

Hutchison is sure to be snapped up by another county, several would pay handsomely for his services, and Somerset could be at the head of the queue wanting to talk to him.

If he does leave, his departure will not be welcomed by many fans who still see him as one of the brightest prospects in the country but the writing has seemed to be on the wall for him this season.

He has been wanted for only one Championship game and when Matthew Hoggard left in the middle of the Kent match to join up with England, Yorkshire overcame the emergency by signing Steven Kirby rather than playing Hutchison.

He hit the headlines with a crop of wickets when he first appeared for the first team towards the end of the 1997 season.

He was so successful that in seven first class games he collected 37 wickets at 20 runs apiece and he has currently taken 137 first class wickets for Yorkshire at an average of 22.20.

Hutchison also enjoyed success with England A but his career has been hindered by injuries, the most serious being a stress fracture of the back which caused him to remodel his action.

Meanwhile, Hoggard is to see a specialist for a report on his foot injury tomorrow and he could play Bradford League cricket for Baildon at the week-end if given the all-clear.

"If he has to wait a little longer it could be the following week-end but he is making a good recovery and he should be back soon," said cricket chairman Bob Platt.

Updated: 09:32 Thursday, July 26, 2001