DAVID Byas looks all set to return to Yorkshire as cricket supremo with the brief of bringing back the glory days of 2001 when they won the County Championship under his captaincy for the first time in 33 years.

Although Yorkshire refuse to confirm or deny Byas's appointment at present, there are indications that talks between the two parties are at an advanced stage and that a deal is imminent.

Yorkshire president, Robin Smith, said: "We have been looking at the restructuring of cricket management since the end of last season.

"Geoff Cope carried the responsibility throughout last summer and the management board has felt there should be changes for 2004.

There are a number of personalities we have talked to and one name has emerged as clear favourite but I am not prepared to make a statement at the moment because negotiations are not yet complete."

Although Byas was unavailable for comment today, he has never made any secret of the fact that he would enjoy being involved again if the circumstances were right.

"I am always prepared to listen carefully to anything that Yorkshire have to say," he once told me.

It is now believed the East Yorkshire farmer could return in the full-time role of director of cricket.

Yorkshire went into decline from the moment Byas quit Yorkshire at the end of his glory season after being told he would not be appointed captain again in 2002.

Since Byas took the catch against Glamorgan on his home ground of Scarborough that clinched the title for Yorkshire on August 24, 2001, the team have only won six out of 34 Championship games with their first home success not coming until the opening game of last season at Headingley.

In Byas's absence, Yorkshire plunged from being Champions to finishing bottom of the pile in 2002 and suffering relegation for the first time.

The new management board confidently predicted that Yorkshire would gain instant promotion this year but they could not manage it, even though they were in with a chance until rain at tea-time forced a draw against Gloucestershire on the final day of the season.

Despite coming close, new captain Anthony McGrath said Yorkshire could have no complains because they had not played consistently well enough to deserve it.

Another bonus for Yorkshire next season will be the return of Australian Darren Lehmann who has always got on extremely well with Byas and will welcome his appointment if it takes place.

The reason Byas lost the captaincy was because Yorkshire's Aussie coach, Wayne Clark, felt that Lehmann could do a better job but this did not turn out to be the case and Yorkshire failed to win a Championship match under Lehmann's leadership in 2002.

Clark, who also had much to do with both Yorkshire winning the Championship and lifting the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy the following season, had his contract terminated last winter and although Cope worked hard and conscientiously in his role of Director of Cricket he also had other responsibilities to attend to and found himself unable to improve on-the-field results.

Towards the end of September, former Warwickshire captain Dermot Reeve gave Yorkshire a pep talk but his involvement with the club is likely to be minimal and he will not be available during the season.

Updated: 11:20 Friday, November 28, 2003