KEVIN Dean says he will have to rein in the "white line fever" when he takes over as Ockbrook & Borrowash captain for the coming Derbyshire Premier League season.

The former Derbyshire left-armer has agreed to take the reins from Neil Smith – quashing speculation that he was set for a move to Leek CC in Staffordshire.

After retiring from first-class cricket, Dean had an outstanding first season for Ockbrook last year as they won the Premier League – taking 37 wickets at just under 14 runs apiece.

The white line fever he jokes about is the ultra-competitive mood that takes over the normally affable Dean when he crosses the boundary line for a match.

"How will I captain the side? Well, I don't think Ockbrook are the most difficult side to captain," said Dean.

"Hopefully, I'll be pretty relaxed about it and let the lads get on with the job.

"But I've suffered from white line fever before and I'm going to have to get that under control, I suppose!

"We'll work together – I have people like Lian Wharton, Trevor Smith and Matt Cassar to turn to for advice when I need it."

Dean takes over at a time when Ockbrook face something of a rebuilding job after losing one or two key players.

After 10 seasons as the most prolific batsman in the Premier League, Johnny Owen has accepted an offer from ambitious County League Division One side Swarkestone and will be a key part of their push for promotion this year.

All-rounder Matt Lineker, again the Premier League Player of the Year in 2009, also looks set to leave Ockbrook.

Lineker played all his junior cricket at Alfreton, eventually captaining them, and is expected to return to the North Derbyshire club this year.

His father, Martin, a former chairman of the club, died just after the end of last season following a long battle with cancer and Lineker's family remain heavily involved at Alfreton.

Batsman Charlie Ault may also move on from Ockbrook, with a return to his childhood club, Elvaston, mooted after they won promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt in 2009.

It looked at one stage as if Ockbrook would also lose opening bat Cassar, who was made an offer by Quarndon, as well as Dean himself but with both now staying, Dean believes the team remains strong enough to cope with the changes – and refutes any suggestion that all is not well in the Ockbrook camp.

"Matt Lineker was going to captain the side and I was going to be his vice-captain," said Dean.

"But it looks as if Matt will go back to Alfreton for personal reasons and everyone understands that.

"There had to come a time when Johnny Owen wasn't playing for Ockbrook any longer. Like Dave Hallack (the club's cricket manager and former captain), he couldn't go on forever.

"A few people have left but it's not because anyone's fallen out. There are no problems and the club still has a brilliant social side to it.

"Perhaps there will be a bit less expectation and a bit less pressure on us this coming season."

Ockbrook are making one signing, with batsman Ben McGonigal set to return to the club after a season back at Belper Meadows.

"Ben had an unlucky trot with the bat the first time he played with us but he's a good player and the fact that he's happy to come back shows that things are OK here," added Dean.

"There may be one more signing before the season but we hope to have Jake Needham available for a considerable part of the season and we also see young George Morgan stepping up this year.

"He's a quick bowler who shapes it away.

"Neil Smith is going to captain the seconds this year but he's not a bad bloke to have ready to step up if we need him."

Dean, who is a football referee in the winter, struggled with his left knee towards the end of last season but says he is feeling fit for the coming season.

"Touch wood, everything is still in one piece," he said.

"I've kept the refereeing to a minimum this winter to help me along.

"I'm fit and well and looking forward to the season."