DARREN Gough is now the only senior Yorkshire player who has not yet negotiated a contract for next season.

England's main strike bowler still has to sit down and discuss his future with Yorkshire chairman Geoff Cope.

The pair had hoped to meet at Headingley before now but Gough has not yet been able to find a suitable day because of his rehabilitation programme at Lilleshall following three operations on his right knee.

Gough is working hard to prove his fitness before being due to travel to Australia with England next month for the forthcoming Ashes series.

Yorkshire chief executive Colin Graves has said Gough wants a new contract with the county club but the details have yet to be hammered out and all options remain open, including a contract on a match basis.

The deep cuts which were forecast in Yorkshire's senior playing staff have been avoided and new deals have been offered to those players whose contracts run out shortly.

Yorkshire are also keeping faith with Gavin Hamilton who froze up while bowling earlier in the season and was only able to send down a dozen overs before dropping out of the first team.

Hamilton's presence has been badly missed this season but he is currently seeking psychological help to get over the problem and is feeling much improved.

"Gavin has got all winter to make a full recovery and restore his confidence," said Cope. "Hopefully, he will be back by the start of the 2003 season and making a big contribution again."

Cope said that all the senior players were being given the opportunity to make amends for this season's relegation into the Championship's Second Division.

"We are standing by them but every effort must be made to win promotion and we expect everyone to fight as hard as he can for a first team place."

Dewsbury-born seamer, Gary Ramsden, who played in one Championship match for Yorkshire in 2000, was released by the county before the recent announcement that four other junior players had not had their contracts renewed.

Yorkshire are also informing four of their Academy and Scholarship staff that they will not be re-engaged.

Yorkshire and England star Michael Vaughan has been voted player of the year by the Professional Cricketers' Association.

The opener emerged as England's top batsman with four Test centuries.

Don't miss David Warner's review of Yorkshire's season in tomorrow's Evening Press.

Updated: 11:41 Tuesday, September 24, 2002