Shropshire bowling great Derek Wright has launched the winter transfer merry-go-round by ending one of the county’s longest player-club associations.

Wright has halted a near 45-year stint at Wem United Services Club to move to their Furrows Shropshire Premier League rivals Chester Road in Whitchurch.

And Shropshire’s away team captain, an influential figure in the county’s Crosfield Cup success of 2009, is hoping the move will breath fresh life into his bowling career.

“I was going to go to Chester Road last year but I had just been made redundant from work and the circumstances weren’t ideal,” revealed 52-year-old Wright.

“But things have settled down again on the job front and I feel the time is right now.

“I’ve had some great times at Wem. I first played a game for them in 1965, and apart from a couple of spells at Battlefields in the mid-1980s, I have bowled for Wem USC ever since.

“I’ve probably been there for 42 years in total, but it’s time for a change and some new challenges which I think Chester Road can provide.

“I feel I have gone a bit stale over the last few years and hopefully playing for Chester Road can change that.

“I still feel I can improve as a bowler and challenge for titles.”

Wright has no shortage of triumphs on his bowls CV, winning the Shropshire Merit in 1979 and 1994.

He’s also won the County Handicap twice and enjoyed success on the national stage, claiming the Isle of Man Festival in 1992 and the British Parks title four years later.

Wright is also closing in on a major landmark for Shropshire as he is just nine short of reaching 100 county appearances, having also had a spell in charge of the inter-counties side.

By JAMES GARRISON