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Sidebottom to leave Nottinghamshire

Ryan Sidebottom will leave Nottinghamshire at the end of the season after failing to agree terms of a new contract with the club

Ryan Sidebottom's days in Nottinghamshire colours are coming to an end  •  Getty Images

Ryan Sidebottom's days in Nottinghamshire colours are coming to an end  •  Getty Images

Nottinghamshire have confirmed that England fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom will leave Trent Bridge at the end of the season, having failed to reach agreement over a new contract to extend his stay after seven seasons with the county.
Despite stating publicly that he wanted to end his career with Nottinghamshire, the 32-year-old left-armer - whose current contract is about to expire - has rejected two offers from Nottinghamshire and will consider what the county described as "multiple offers" from other counties.
Lancashire, Hampshire, Somerset and Surrey are expected to be among the front-runners to land his signature. Sussex were linked with a move for him several weeks ago, although it is understood they have made no firm offer.
Sidebottom, who is not expecting his England central contract to be renewed after making only one Test appearance in the last 18 months, wanted the security of a three-year term for what he says will be his final county placement.
However, Nottinghamshire's policy with players of Sidebottom's age is to offer no more than two years and although they were prepared to make an exception in his case, offering him a performance-related three-year contract in addition to an unconditional two years, it still was not enough to keep the player from moving on after seven years at Trent Bridge.
"I didn't want to leave the club but this is the last contract I will sign as a professional cricketer and I wanted the security of a three year deal," Sidebottom said. "There was a two-year deal on the table for me and a three-year deal with certain stipulations but they didn't suit me and so I have to move on."
Sidebottom reignited his international career during his time at Trent Bridge, whom he joined in 2004 after leaving Yorkshire. His 22 Tests brought him 79 wickets and he was a key member of the England team that won the ICC World Twenty20.
"Ryan has made an exceptional contribution during his time here and I'm disappointed to be losing him," Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, Mick Newell, said. "The stumbling block wasn't money but the length of the contract on offer. There is no doubt in my mind that he will make a big contribution at his next club and I'm grateful that he has given us exceptional service throughout the best years of his career."
Sidebottom has underlined his commitment to the remainder of Nottinghamshire's season as they pursue success in the Clydesdale Bank 40 as well as the County Championship, in which they led the First Division table going into this round.
"Winning the Championship would be the perfect way to sign off and that's what I'm focussed on," he said. "I've made a lot of great friends in the dressing room and the supporters have been great to me and I am happy to be departing on good terms.
"I'm an uncomplicated cricketer in that I give my all in every game and hopefully my team mates and the Nottinghamshire members and supporters have appreciated that. I never planned to leave but I have to protect the best interests of my family and that is ultimately why I have made this decision."
As for Sidebottom's next port of call, there had been strong speculation that Sussex were at the head of the queue and it was reported last month that they had given Nottinghamshire the required 28 days' notice of an approach. It is understood now, however, that they have not made an offer.
However, there will be no shortage of alternative destinations. Lancashire - mindful that Glen Chapple will be 37 by the time next season begins - and Somerset are both believed to be interested, while lack of financial muscle would not rule out Durham and Hampshire, who will host their first Test match next summer.
Sidebottom, who took 79 Test wickets in 22 matches at 28.24, has 212 first-class wickets at 25.17 in seven seasons at Trent Bridge, where he won a Championship medal in 2005. Nonetheless, they clearly felt the depth of their seam bowling resources enabled them to stick to their guns in the contract discussions, even without taking the occasional availability of Stuart Broad into account.
In addition to Andre Adams, Darren Pattinson and Paul Franks in the current first-team line-up, they can also call on Charlie Shreck, while 21-year-old Luke Fletcher is held in high regard and Andy Carter, also 21, has been gaining experience on loan with Essex. They do not have another left-armer, however, and Mick Newell might want to recruit in that department, with Derbyshire's Graham Wagg a possible target.
Meanwhile, it will almost certainly need a deal to be struck between Lancashire and Nottinghamshire to force a positive result in this match after the whole of the third day was lost to rain.
However, Nottinghamshire are in much less need of a win than Lancashire, whose outside chance in the title race would be effectively ended by anything less. Expect Nottinghamshire, then, to set their sights on batting bonus points.