DAVID ALLEN is enjoying being involved with Gloucestershire again over 20 years after leaving the club.

The former England Test cricketer rejoined the county at the start of the season and is adopting a hands-on approach to help the club embark on a new era.

Also president of Thornbury Cricket Club and the West of England Premier League, Allen was delighted to be handed the same role with the county, and he hopes to use his expertise in club cricket to build crucial links.

“The chairman Rex Body rang me up and said the committee and the board would like me to take on the presidency for two years,” he explained.

“It really is a great privilege and honour, and I’m enjoying it.”

“I’ve watched Gloucester youth teams, the second team and most of the first team games.”

Allen, 75, played for Gloucestershire for 20 years and was chairman of the committee between 1989 and 1990.

“That was very enjoyable, but it was very difficult in those days because I had a family and a job and the responsibility of the cricket as well with the captain,” he said.

“The setup is a lot better now where you have a director of cricket, which is a full-time job, and people like myself.

“I can do the link between county and club and if there are any players to spot, pick them up on the way round and let the county have a look at them.”

After losing stars such as Steve Kirby, Gemaal Hussain and Will Porterfield over the winter, Gloucestershire have begun a rebuilding process with youth at the core.

Allen said: “I think it’s got to be a three-year plan because last winter we lost four or five senior players and it’s not easy.

“It’s up to (director of cricket) John Bracewell and his right hand men in the cricket world to find players, and that’s not easy, but they’ve done pretty well.

“I think this year is one of finding the right players and putting them together.

“The second year should be evolving and adding to the group, moulding them into a side.

“I think in the third year we should say to the public, we’ve had two years, we’re up and running watch us and let us see if we can win something now.

“They’ve had bad luck with Chris Dent breaking his finger, because he is entertaining, but he’s just about getting back into it now and those are the sort of players you are looking for.

“In my mind you don’t want to pick up the average journeyman from another county anymore.

“I think your coaching department has to be that good and your scouting department has to be that good that you go out and you spot your young players and those that want to play for Gloucestershire.”