Oxfordshire Cricket Board chairman Chris Clements says they are hopeful of signing former England Test paceman Alex Tudor as player-coach.

The board have agreed a package they hope will entice the ex-Surrey man, but Clements stressed they would not be breaking the bank or restricting youth development.

Tudor, who played ten Tests for England between 1998 and 2002, emerged as a target last month.

Clements said: “We have agreed a proposal and now it is a case of waiting.

“We are very positive about Alex. A team of people have met him and got on well.”

If he agrees to join Oxfordshire, Tudor will be a player-coach with the senior team and coach the development XI as well helping improve seam bowling in the county.

“It is not about having a hired hand to win the Minor Counties Championship,” said Clements.

“There is much broader view of helping develop the next generation of seamers and also getting the best publicity for Oxfordshire cricket.

“We have got a dearth of seam bowlers and we will be working with local clubs to resolve that.”

Tudor will be playing club cricket in Nottinghamshire, but the OCB don’t see that as a problem.

Clements stressed the money to fund Tudor would come from re-allocating costs from elsewhere.

He said: “Signing an ex-pro doesn’t sit comfortably with us, but this is a good option.”

Tudor, 32, took 220 first-class wickets at an average of 28.41, but his career was blighted by injuries.