​“What we need is a good old, gnarled professional,” a Leicestershire supporter told me towards the end of last season.

I agree. A little bit of nous would go a long way in helping the County’s young brigade work their way up the cricketing ladder.

Substitute the “old” and “gnarled” terminology for “seasoned” and you have Matthew Hoggard.

Whether Leicestershire manage to seal the deal with the former Yorkshire and England paceman remains to be seen. Only Hoggard knows the answer to that one and he is taking his time – quite rightly – to ensure that he makes the correct move at this stage of his career having spent the last 15 years with Yorkshire.

But should he sign for County it could provide the club with the catalyst it needs to begin making strides in the right direction.

There is no question that the ability is there – it simply needs bringing together on the pitch. Hoggard, with the quality to capture 50 wickets a season, could certainly help to achieve that with the knowledge he must have built up in his days with Yorkshire and England.

Leicestershire clearly recognise that given the manner in which they have set the pace in the chase for the seamer over the past few weeks.

If the club pull off the signing – and there is some serious competition out there – it will be a tremendous coup, and one which could also signal the start of a change in fortunes at Grace Road.

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Speaking of “old” and “gnarled” (yes, I include myself!) you won’t find many fresh-faced youths at Leicestershire Cricket Society’s winter meetings – which is more the pity.

The LCS provides a popular, monthly forum for local cricket lovers to meet, have a jar or two and discuss the game out of season.

Meetings, staged in the Charles Palmer Suite at Grace Road, revolve around a guest speaker, with a varied selection from the wide world of cricket having addressed members over the past few years.

Former Test Match Special producer Peter Baxter, ex-Gloucestershire and England keeper Jack Russell, and former Zimbabwe Test star Henry Olonga are among those who have been well received.

Star billing on this year’s guest list goes to Graham Gooch, who visits the LCS in February.

A man of Gooch’s stature, who remains prominent in the game, should prove an attraction to cricket fans of all ages as he looks back on his years with Essex and England.

Who knows, there might even be the odd question thrown in about a certain NatWest Trophy semi-final at Grace Road in 1992 and the re-emergence of one JP Agnew!