Mark Alleyne returned to Gloucestershire where he remains their most decorated player
New Gloucestershire head coach Mark Alleyne believes gaining promotion to the County Championship this season is a “realistic goal”.
Alleyne, 55, is Gloucestershire's most decorated player and coached there from 2005 to 2007 before returning last month.
Gloucestershire finished bottom of Division Two last season after being relegated in 2021.
The club begins its 2024 season away to Derbyshire on April 5.
“We are good enough to be in the top two of eight in the championship. That is a realistic target that we can achieve in 2024,” Alleyne told ` Points West.
“I think you can naturally see from the results – particularly in the last two years – that they are well below the standard you would expect here. First and foremost, we want to change that.”
“But the players here are exciting, they’re good, it’s a nice mix. I think the mature, more experienced players aren't that old yet and we have a good selection of young guys who have come in and made a difference.” .
“I think the group is ready to achieve something and that will be the exciting part of the season.”
After being relegated from Division One in 2022, Gloucestershire did not win a single County Championship game last season.
But Alleyne's return reminds the club of one of the most successful periods in its history.
The former all-rounder, who played ten one-day games for England, made almost 800 appearances for the county, winning nine trophies and promotion to the County Championship during his 19-year playing career with the Shire.
“I’m really interested in raising expectations. Even if we don't meet them, we won't be far away, but the performances should improve,” said Alleyne.
“There is always a reference point [to the past] but I always looked forward.
“Never leave spiritually”
While the County Championship is the top priority, Alleyne says managing performance will be more challenging when the T20 Blast begins later this summer.
Gloucestershire last reached the knockout stages in 2020.
“This will admittedly be a much more difficult task for the group.” [southern] “We are strong,” Alleyne said.
“Look at last year and the four semi-finalists were all from this group – it will be a difficult task but one we are looking forward to.”
Alleyne was Glamorgan's white-ball coach last season and also coached the England Twenty20 team on their 2022 tour of the West Indies.
He said he didn't feel like he had ever left Gloucestershire “mentally” and that the opportunity to return at this point in his career was a “really good fit” with his children completing their full-time education last year.
“In my first attempt I was an experienced player, captain but a very young coach. Now I feel like I still have those qualities, but I'm a more mature coach now with so much, much experience.” I feel like I'm in a better place to take on that role.
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