SEAN Walbridge believes Dorset’s new three-year sponsorship package with The Hearn Group will enable the production line of young talent in the county to continue to blossom.

Since the two organisations linked up in 2006, the Dean Park outfit have reached the One-Day Final at Lords and also enjoyed plenty of success in the Minor Counties League where they finally became outright champions last year – a feat they are hoping to mirror this season.

Team manager Walbridge said: “Shaun Hearn has been a tremendously loyal supporter of Dorset County Cricket Club and we are very grateful for his continued support.

“The deal will allow us to continue developing the brightest young talent in Dorset in order to help them progress into Minor Counties Cricket by giving the players the best coaching, support, equipment and training kit.

“We look forward to moving forward with The Hearn Group over the three years and to build on last season’s success.

“Our aim at Dorset CCC is to compete for both the one-day and three-day trophies over that period.”

Hearn went on to add: “Our relationship with Dorset CCC has been fantastic over the last five years and we are delighted to have tied up another deal for a further three years.

“The fact our sponsorship goes back into youth development and aids the progress of those players coming through is great and hopefully other companies will start coming on board as well.

“We do not want to hold the rights to anything because at the end of the day the most important thing is for the fantastic set-up at the club to continue to get even stronger.”