NETHERFIELD’S Chris Williams has left the club to be the professional of Unsworth Cricket Club in Manchester.

Despite being given a good offer to stay at the Parkside Road club, Williams felt that the Unsworth offer was better for him on account of him training to become a teacher on placement at a school just a few miles from the Central Lancashire League club.

“The offer was very good and he had a very good season with us last season,” said Netherfield captain Marc Brown.

“He left on very good terms and if the job was in Kendal and he continued to live in the area then he wouldn’t have been playing for anybody else but us.”

Williams, who joined ‘Field last season, had an impressive campaign by scoring 473 runs with the bat as well as taking 54 wickets, with his best figures of 6-23 in the home clash with Carnforth.

Williams said of his departure: "I left because of location and travelling. My university course is pretty hectic and I cannot afford the time with all the travelling that is involved.

“I really enjoyed last season and wouldn't be going anywhere at all if I lived more locally. Unworth is a few miles from my home in Manchester so it's ideal."

Meanwhile Stu Dixon is wintering in Australia as he moves to Geelong for the next few months.

He hasn’t featured much in the Workington Reds football side this term, and feels that spending the winter in Australia will help develop his cricketing.

Brown said: “I spoke to Stu the other day and he’s gone to Geelong through one of the contacts at the club.

“He was wanting to get away I think to get out in the sunshine and play a bit of cricket at the same time.”

Dixon has progressed through the junior ranks at the club and has become a regular in the first and second team, taking key wickets during his time at the club so far.

Brown added that he expected Dixon to return in time for the start of the new season in April.

Dixon, who has flown out straight away for Australia, said: “The move to Geelong is a once in a life time opportunity. Last season was frustrating for me personally, and I am just looking forward to playing cricket and developing my game as a cricketer.”

Brown said he is expecting the club to sign a couple of players in the next couple of weeks, and negotiations with signing an as-yet unnamed professional for the club next season have begun.