HAMPSHIRE cricket are set to sign Southampton-born Billy Taylor - and are also keen on ex-England bowler Ryan Sidebottom.

Seam bowler Taylor has left Sussex after failing to agree terms with the county champions.

And Rose Bowl manager Paul Terry is ready to bring him to Hampshire, along with left armer Sidebottom who was released by Yorkshire last week.

Terry, who is now back in Perth, said: "Billy Taylor is someone I'm very interested in, he's done very well for Sussex this year on a batsmen's wicket at Hove and he's a local guy, he is just what we need."

Taylor, 26, is expected to sign a three-year contract at the Rose Bowl, five years after joining Sussex who he joined after being rejected by Hampshire as a teenager.

He said: "I always said that there were only two places where I could see myself playing which was Sussex and Hampshire. Hampshire has a great future. They got promoted to Division One in the National League and the wicket at the Rose Bowl should suit a bowler like me who hits the deck hard.

"I have been made to feel that there are going to be more regular opportunities there for me and that's what I need at this stage of my career.

"Sussex couldn't guarantee that there would be regular opportunities to play in the championship and I understand that, but I'm not going to further my career playing in the seconds waiting for people to lose form or get injured."

He added: "I played about half a season for Hampshire's second XI when I was young. They didn't consider me good enough to play first class cricket so I went to New Zealand determined to prove them wrong.

"It's a totally different club now and the Rose Bowl is one of my favourite grounds. I've played there a few times for Sussex and have always done okay there and Paul Terry seems a very honest person who wants the best for the county."

Former Bitterne Park schoolboy Taylor, whose parents live in Southampton, added: "I've always wanted to play for my home county and playing for Hampshire would mean I was amongst family and friends.

"I grew up watching Malcolm Marshall and being amazed at how quick he was and watching Robin Smith bat and fizz the ball in from the boundary - and I used to play under 12s cricket with Derek Kenway."

Sussex's director of cricket Peter Moores admitted he was disappointed by Taylor's decision.

Moores said: "Billy's going back home and we wish him well because he has always done a good job for us. It's a real shame but we couldn't give him the guarantees about regular first team cricket which he wanted.

"Even if we'd matched Hampshire's offer I don't think it would have made any difference but the good thing is that we knew more or less straight away."

Taylor played just 28 first-class games in four full seasons with Sussex, taking 71 wickets, although he was a regular in the county's one-day side, taking 109 wickets in 77appearances.

Last season he took 21 wickets in seven championship games and 17 wickets in 14 National League games.

Terry, who wants to sign "three or four players" as well as Shane Warne, added: "Ryan Sidebottom is a another quality bowler who I also hope to have a chat with, but there will no doubt be other counties interested."