SHANE WARNE will this week discuss a possible return to Hampshire in 2005 with chairman Rod Bransgrove.

Warne, pictured, is eager to captain Hampshire for the first half of their first season in division one of both the county championship and the totesport National League.

Next summer's Ashes series does not start until the end of July and Warne is eager to maintain some continuity after leading Hampshire to a second championship promotion in four years at the weekend

He said: "I'll need to see what's going on over the next couple of years, work out a few things and have a general chat about what the future holds.

"I'm still retired from one day international cricket, and the Tests don't start until the end of July so I'd only miss the last six weeks of the season. But it might depend on whether I can get a break in there at some stage."

Warne will also discuss potential new signings with Bransgrove and manager Paul Terry. "Even if I'm able to play, the other overseas player will not necessarily be a batsman - it depends whether we can pick another couple of players from somewhere else or decide to back a few of our young players who have done well," he said.

Hampshire's 86-run win against Leicestershire, their eighth championship victory of the season and their fifth in seven away games, assured them of promotion.

Warne said: "It's a very good achievement considering where Hampshire have been in the last two years. We'd won four games in two years before this season but have now won eight and should probably have won ten."

Warne added: "Our goal at the start of the season was promotion and this means a lot to me, it's a huge lift to me to know I must be doing something right.

"I wanted to get us to start playing properly, to play hard, tough aggressive cricket in the right spirit and winning.

"I wanted to change the culture and the attitude of players so it's win at all costs, to find a way when it's getting tough to survive and find a way of getting wickets when it's hard going.

"I've been trying to get the best out of everyone and have set some weird fields for guys at times, but we've always had a plan and as a group of guys we've all earned each others' respect.

"Everyone's chipped in, there haven't been any real stars, a few blokes have done extremely well but everyone has contributed. Next year our goal will be to stay up and, who knows, if we play some really good cricket we might just win something too."