RICHARD Morris relinquished the Bashley captaincy before vowing to throw his full support behind his successor.

The 27-year-old, named skipper in 2011, said that "increased work commitments" meant he could no longer continue in the role.

Newbury-based Morris, a national sales manager for clothing suppliers Serious Sport, will continue to play for the first XI and is due to feature in tomorrow's home clash with New Forest rivals Lymington (1pm).

He told the Daily Echo: "The reality is that I've got increased work commitments, I live 60 miles away from the club and I think it's the right time for someone else to take the captaincy on and start shaping it.

"I'm immensely proud of what we've done over the past four years, especially winning the T20 at the Rose Bowl in 2012, and we have had some good finishes in the league whereas when I took over we were ninth.

"We've brought in a lot of new, young local cricketers and the results have been there on the field.

"We've made some great strides forward but I have great work demands as well as the fact that I play Minor Counties cricket for Berkshire on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

"I'm not sure I can dedicate the time I could to it three years ago and I think it's time for someone else to take it on.

"The timing might seem strange but it's something I have given thought to for a little while."

Morris is the second local Southern Premier League skipper to step down this week after Ryan Beck relinquished the reins at New Milton.

Beck, who had initially resigned at the end of last season before making a U-turn, stated that he wanted to be picked on merit and not because he was captain.

Meanwhile, Morris hopes to be involved in the process to determine his successor and pledged his full support for the future skipper.

He added: "I will continue to play and I'm looking forward to supporting whoever takes it on.

"The cricket committee is going to sit down and come up with a list of names who we'd like to speak to about it.

"I'd like to be involved in that process and I think I will be, and whoever does get the job will have my full support."

Simon Watkins returns to the Bashley team this weekend and will captain the side, while James Morris is also back in the fold.

Bashley: Watkins, Porter, Andrews, Digby, Jacques, Baker, Thurgood, Thomson, R Morris, J Morris, Nash.

Lymo: Rogers, McManus, Scott, Beetham, Cowley, Ambrose, Metcalfe, Ellis, Moors, Ashkenazi, Freeman.