TEENAGE prodigy Tom Smith is to be Chorley Cricket Club's professional next season.

The 18-year-old all-rounder, who has represented England at Under 19 level, scored more than 1000 runs for Chorley this season and frequently opened the bowling for the side.

Smith will replace Pakistani pace bowler Stephen John who has been with the club for three years and took 60 wickets in the league this year.

The surprise decision to take on Smith as pro was taken at a members' meeting on Monday.

Chorley CC chairman Eddie Preston said: "Tom has fantastic potential as an all-round cricketer and has played superbly for us this year with both bat and ball.

"Stephen John has been excellent in his three years here and we could not have asked for anything more from him. He has made a lot of friends here and we wish him all the best for the future.

"But we think keeping Tom as a professional will be a great boost to the youngsters at the club. We have a fantastic set of young players here.

"Tom's younger brother Billy also has great potential as has teenage spinner Grav Dhar who was among the economical bowlers in the league. For several games this season we had an all-teenage bowling attack which is amazing."

Smith has been granted a cricket scholarship for next season and is likely to miss some matches if he is selected to play for Lancashire 2nd XI.

The club said it had assurances from Lancashire County Cricket Club that an adequate replacement would be sent to the club if that occurred.

The chairman added that work is due to start soon on new practice facilities at the ground and that they shoul be operational for the start of next season.

The future of club captain Nigel Heaton remains uncertain and it is likely he will stand down as skipper.

This could leave a problem as to who is to take over, as veteran wicketkeeper Neil Senior, a possible replacement, has announced he is to retire.

The rest of the squad is inexperienced although Tom Smith himself captained the side in a Twenty/20 match this season.

The club is also optimistic that the team, which finished fifth in the Northern Premier League this year, will be granted a place in next season's Lancashire Knockout competition.