Jamie Hewitt, who has lost his post as Oxfordshire player-coach, has been given a new role as county coach for next season.

The former Middlesex and Kent seamer will be coaching the first team, the development side and be involved in the community academy groups.

County captain Ian Hawtin said: "With his Level 3 coaching qualification everyone respects him as a coach.

"He gets on well with people and we very much wanted to keep him involved."

Hewitt became Oxon's first professional for around 70 years when he was recruited by the county in 2005.

But his performances in the Minor Counties Championship were disappointing.

Despite this, Hewitt remains keen to play for Oxon on a non-professional basis.

"He will be available for selection for the first team as well, but rather than being player-coach he is going to be county coach, but still hoping to play," explained Hawtin.

It looks like Oxon are unlikely to employ a playing professional to replace Hewitt.

"That is an option," added Hawtin. "But to be honest there are not too many options particularly in the bowling department which is what we are looking for.

"There are very few players, if any at all like that, and the ones that there are, are snapped up by the first-class counties."

Hawtin will be at the helm for Oxon for a third season, and is looking for the county to improve on last season's results.

"I am pleased to take on the captaincy again," he said. "We have to look at where we went wrong and how we can put things right and how we can start winning games.

"Perhaps we need to be a little bit harder - and that is something we need to talk about."