Paul Terry declared his interest in Ian Ward after Hampshire once again failed to clinch National League promotion yesterday.

Left-handed batsman Ward, 29, left Surrey after seven years at the Oval yesterday and now Hampshire want to bring the former England man to the Rose Bowl.

Somerset and Sussex are also known to be keen to snap up opener Ward, who won his five England caps two years ago.

And Hampshire manager Terry, pictured, admitted: "I've got to be careful what I say but we are interested in him, he's a quality player, but I would imagine that every county would like to sign him.

"He's very ambitious, he wants to get back in the England side, which is his main priority."

Ward scored twin hundreds when he played for Surrey at the Rose Bowl at the end of last season, a year in which he scored 1,759 first class runs at an average of 62.82.

This year he has not been as successful but his arrival would more than make up for the loss of fellow left-hander John Francis.

Ward, 30 later this month, is keen to captain a county but Terry yesterday insisted that Shane Warne remains Hampshire's choice as captain for 2004.

Hampshire lost off the penultimate ball against Middlesex at Lord's and now have to beat Derbyshire at Derby next Sunday to be sure of promotion from Division Two of the National League.

That was not the only bad news. Chris Tremlett will not play in the last games of the season at Derby after aggravating a foot injury.

Terry added: "The dressing room was like a morgue afterwards but I didn't expect it to be cheerful."