ESSEX are favourites to land Darren Gough should the England star quit Yorkshire.

He is to tell the Tykes later this week if he no longer wants to go on playing for his native county because he feels he is under constant sniping from some committee members and fans.

Should he want to leave then Yorkshire will almost certainly release him from his contract which still has a year to run.

If Gough does quit, then I understand that Essex could head the queue of clubs eager for his signature.

Gough is now almost at the end of what will be a highly lucrative benefit season with Yorkshire but throughout the year he has appeared to be highly sensitive of what he considers to be criticism of his loyalty to the club, despite being assured that no problem exists.

Yorkshire have also become increasingly concerned at some of the remarks which Gough has been making both in print and on television and last week chief executive Chris Hassell visited Gough at his Buckinghamshire home to thrash things out.

The result of the meeting was that Gough agreed to contact Yorkshire in a few days' time so that the two parties could embark on a joint course of action.

But Gough opened the wounds up further in a newspaper article yesterday in which he accused un-named Yorkshire officials of stabbing him in the back.

Gough, who will only play for England in the one-day internationals in India and New Zealand this winter after refusing to do the Test tour of India, said: "I honestly don't know what I'm going to do but decision time is here.

"I've never wavered from the desire that I want to end my playing days at Yorkshire. But there's only so much I can take. It's almost unbearable.

"I can live with the 'OBE Gough' comments - Only Bowls for England - even the poison-pen letters, but it's been clear this year that certain members of the committee don't want me around at any price."

Hassell, however, strongly refuted any suggestion that Yorkshire were wanting rid of Gough.

"We had a long and comprehensive discussion last week and I assured him that he was wanted," said Hassell.

"Coach Wayne Clark has spoken to him and has even written to him to assure him that everything is all right so far as the team is concerned.

"Now the ball is in Darren's court and I am waiting to hear what he has decided."

Yorkshire cricket chairman Bob Platt said: "The cricket committee are unaware of any internal criticism of Gough. A lot of contradictory statements have been made and we want things to be cleared up."

Although there are some genuine Gough fans among Yorkshire followers, an increasing number of members last season felt that he was increasingly giving the impression of not being interested in playing for the club - accusations which Gough has always strongly denied.

He did, however, play in only two Championship matches all season and against Somerset at Headingley was barracked because some fans believed he was not putting as much into his bowling as Andy Caddick was for the opposition.

At the end of last August, there were strong rumours that Gough would be signing for Essex next season but when I spoke to their chief executive, David East, he played down the speculation, while in the Yorkshire camp Hassell said: "Absolute rubbish. Darren Gough is going nowhere."

But Essex captain Ronnie Irani intimated last week that the club would be keen to approach Gough if he were released by Yorkshire.

And Graham Gooch, now back at Essex as director of cricket, has said that the county would only be interested in signing another fast bowler if he were of world class. Essex have recently signed Leicestershire paceman Jon Dakin, and 32-year-old fast bowler Joseph Grant, who plays for York and District Senior League champions Dunnington and made his debut for Essex against Yorkshire at Scarborough in the final Championship match of last summer.

Another factor which could draw Gough to Essex is that his close friend and former Yorkshire team-mate, Paul Grayson, best man at his wedding, is now a firmly established member of the Essex side. Grayson used to play for Bedale when they were in the York and District Senior League.

Essex, who have just had money pumped into the club in a fresh sponsorship deal, finished bottom of the Championship table last season but are determined to make their mark next summer in all competitions.

Also turning out for Essex next season will be off-spinner James Middlebrook, one of six players recently released by Yorkshire.