THAT was the week that was...It's over let it go... So went the song.

Things can only get better on and off the field for Yorkshire after an opening week to the season that the County Champions would prefer to forget.

On Monday, an innings victory was completed over Bradford-Leeds Universities' Centre of Excellence but some of the fast bowling still looked very vulnerable.

On Tuesday it was revealed the Fraud Squad had been called in to investigate a black hole in the club's financial operations at their Headingley shop, and from Wednesday onwards they were thoroughly out-played in all departments by hungry looking Surrey.

On the brighter side, Darren Lehmann arrived to take up his captaincy and soon appointed Richard Blakey as his deputy and there were promising centuries against the students by Scott Richardson and Michael Lumb, who is already looking a player-and-a-half.

But these silver linings do not mask the fact that at the moment Yorkshire look more like struggling to stay in Division One of the Frizzell County Championship rather than holding on to the coveted title.

They were, of course, without five of their top players who were either injured or barred by England from playing, but Yorkshire have just got to accept the fact that they will not be seeing much of Darren Gough and Co throughout the summer.

Yorkshire's two Aussie chiefs - coach Wayne Clark and Lehmann - both made a big impression among their audience at the start-of-season lunch at Elland Road, and they will be even more popular at the end of the summer if they prove to be a winning combination.

So quickly are traditions forgotten once they are thrown out of the window that few members or fans now seem to begrudge the fact that the powerbase in Yorkshire cricket is currently under the control of a couple of Australians.

Lord Hawke may be turning in his grave - but just remember he wasn't a Yorkshireman, either.

There is little doubt Lehmann will turn out to be an inspirational captain and it goes without saying he commands the respect of all the playing staff, as does Clark.

Their remarks were generally well received at the lunch but perhaps not everyone agreed with their view it was more important for Yorkshire to breed England cricketers than win trophies.

Clark said: "I see my role as producing players good enough to play for England and trophies are secondary. If we win one along the way, so well and good."

Yorkshire supporters may well feel that they pay their gate money or subscriptions first and foremost to watch the club win whatever trophies are on offer. And if they produce an England player along the way, so well and good!

Updated: 11:00 Saturday, April 27, 2002