Rod Bransgrove has given Hampshire manager Paul Terry his vote of confidence - describing him as a "world class" coach.

Rose Bowl plc chairman Bransgrove is backing Terry's ability to make Hampshire a force in county cricket by 2005 despite a forgettable first season at the Rose Bowl.

Even though the county won promotion from the National League in 2003 ...

They finished second from bottom in the second division of the championship, narrowly avoiding the county's first wooden spoon for 23 years.

They also won only one of their five Twenty20 Cup matches.

They were also knocked out in the first round of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy by Sussex.

Despite that, Bransgrove said: "Paul is a world class coach who has come to grips with the role very quickly.

"It's been challenging for him bearing in mind he was looking forward to working with Shane Warne at the beginning of the season.

"It's been a difficult start for him as he also knew he was going to oversee the end of a very important career in Robin Smith, a very old friend, but I'm totally satisfied with his performance."

Bransgrove added: "We have two years to make a serious impact.

"We can live with what happened this year and a lot can happen in the next 12 months.

"What we want to see next year is evidence of development in the young players.

"If some of our young players break through to become seriously high performers that would be evidence that we are on track, but I do realise that we are under pressure from our long suffering supporters.

"It's about expectations. As soon as Southampton reach the FA Cup final and finish in the top half of the table, the expectations are raised for the following season.

"And now that we're viable and secure as a business the members expect us to be successful

"That's not unreasonable, our members are as patient as you could possibly imagine.

"I don't feel we've let them down, we've saved the club from oblivion but they haven't enjoyed the success they deserve."

Meanwhile, Hampshire have opened negotiations with Billy Taylor but they are one of FOURTEEN counties interested in Ryan Sidebottom.

Durham are the favourites to sign left arm seamer Sidebottom, primarily because of first team coach Martyn Moxon's Yorkshire links.

Warwickshire are one of the other 12 counties keen on Sidebottom, who left Yorkshire by mutual consent having failed to win back his place in the side after recovering from a twisted ankle that he suffered against Hampshire at Scarborough in July.

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