SIGNING Robin Peterson fits a short-term need that head of cricket John Morris hopes will lead to a long-term gain for Derbyshire.

The South African left-arm spinner has signed for the county as a Kolpak player for the 2010 season.

It is a capture that very much bucks the current trend in county cricket.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has fought to kick the Kolpaks out of the county game and has succeeded in persuading the Home Office to impose stiffer work permit regulations.

To qualify, players from outside the EU are required to have recent international experience – either one Test appearance in the last two years, five Tests in the last five years or 15 one-day internationals in the last two years.

The same criteria seems likely to deprive Derbyshire of their captain, Chris Rogers, after the end of the 2010 season and many other counties have already been affected.

Only this week, Northamptonshire announced they fear they may not be able to bring back Johan van der Wath and Riki Wessels next year.

But Peterson, who has played six Tests, 35 ODIs and five Twenty20 internationals, fits the work permit requirements – though he may struggle to get back in the country in 2011 unless the regulations change again.

The Kolpak rule was forced on cricket by international law and means players from South Africa and certain West Indies nations can play without being classed as overseas signings.

Counties used the loophole to supplement their sides with players who would often be cheaper to hire than Englishmen, prompting a growing backlash from the ECB as they looked to put the emphasis back on developing home-grown talent.

But the Kolpak rule has not been all bad. It has allowed in players who have gone through the long process of qualifying to play for England and has allowed counties to draft in players of proven international class to help the development of their young talent.

Charl Langeveldt's presence was a huge benefit to Derbyshire in 2008 and Wavell Hinds, though his form was too patchy on the field, was unquestionably a big influence off it.

Morris believes 30-year-old Peterson can bring similar benefits to Derbyshire next season.

Though part-timers Graham Wagg and Greg Smith have filled in with reasonable success, Derbyshire lack an experienced specialist spinner and certainly also need additional batting firepower in the one-day game.

Peterson fits that bill and by having the chance to learn from a player who has competed at the highest level, Morris also feels the signing will help young off-spinner Jake Needham become a better player in the future.

"We needed more balance with the ball," he said.

"Jake Needham is 23. Spin bowlers will not mature until later in their careers and it would be a big ask of a young cricketer like Jake for him to win us three games a season in the Championship because, at the moment, his development is not there.

"He will play his games, as he did last season.

"Robin Peterson is available and there aren't many who are. We have gone for him because he is what we are short of.

"We gave Mark Lawson an opportunity last season and if he had done well for us he would still be here but he isn't and that left a gap."

It is also worth remembering that while there may not be many newcomers, Peterson will not be the only Kolpak remaining in county cricket next season and Morris was aware that he could be at a disadvantage if he had not looked to all his options.

"We are going to have a Kolpak player because other counties are as well and if we don't, we won't be as competitive," he added.

"Wavell's contribution was patchy and if we are going to have a Kolpak player I want someone who is going to give us more consistency.

"I hope this lad will give us depth in our batting and take us 40-50 wickets with the ball. If we had that last year, we would not still be in Division Two.

"He could come over and be a revelation or he could be an ordinary cricketer but we haven't got anybody better.

"Jake's here long term and we hope in three or four years' time he is our main spinner but, at this moment, he isn't ready for that, so you plug the gap."