NEW Lancashire coach Peter Moores will use next week’s pre-season trip to the United Arab Emirates as a further “getting to know you” session with his players.

The former England and Sussex boss has been working at Old Trafford since March 1, but has still to meet every player. And he will not do so until he returns from the Emirates, with the likes of Steven Croft, Francois du Plessis and Sajid Mahmood still playing abroad.

“The trip is a chance to get to know the lads a little bit better,” he said.

Lancashire, who fly out on Sunday, will play Sussex, Essex, a Fly Emirates All Star team and, more than likely, either Yorkshire, Surrey or Middlesex in the Pro ARCH Trophy.

Moores’ objective is to win the competition, which starts with a floodlit clash with Sussex on Thursday, but knows success at home is what matters.

“We are not going to be judged on whether we have won the Pro ARCH Trophy or not,” he said. “I don’t think winning or losing the games there will be the end of the world, but we can find out a bit more about players.”

Moores will be joined on the 10-day tour by director of cricket Mike Watkinson, who was one of the major players in the appointment of the 46-year-old Macclesfield man.

Having moved “upstairs” from his post as cricket manager, Watkinson will oversee the day-to-day running of the county’s cricket department.

Moores is delighted to have such an experienced man to work with.

“The relationship between me and Mike is a very important one,” he said. “My job is basically to run the professional staff and organise the coaching staff that goes with that. Hopefully then I can produce a winning team for Lancashire.

“Mike has made it pretty clear that is my role, and I can work it how I want. Mike’s job is to oversee all things cricket. That relationship will evolve with time, it has been great so far.”