Cricket director Mike Watkinson is still expecting Lancashire to go into the new county season without an overseas star.

The club’s long wrangle over their multi-million pound redevelopment of Old Trafford has left the purse for new talent virtually empty due to them having had to spend more money than expected.

Watkinson said: “My understanding of the situation is that we now have the confidence that we have got a long-term strategy in place. We will have the funds available to help us achieve that.

“But it doesn’t mean that our cash-flow situation is any easier in the short-term.”

Meanwhile, Lancashire have revealed that the new ends at Old Trafford will be called the Pavilion End and the Statham End. The square is now on a north-south axis.