Leicestershire CCC favourites to sign Matthew Hoggard

Leicestershire are emerging as favourites for the signature of former Yorkshire seam bowler Matthew Hoggard.

The race to sign the 32-year-old has virtually boiled down to a two-horse affair in the last week with County and Sussex both having offered Hoggard three-year deals.

Other clubs, including Worcestershire, Middlesex and Essex had all expressed an interest in extending Hoggard's career after he was released by his native county last month.

But only Leicestershire and Sussex, who have also been heavily linked with Northamptonshire and England slow left-armer Monty Panesar recently, have followed up their interest with firm offers.

However, the Foxes have also offered Hoggard the captaincy at Grace Road.

Senior coach Tim Boon feels, with his wealth of experience, he could develop into a highly influential character for the club's emerging pace bowlers, one of whom, 18-year-old Nathan Buck, produced some outstanding displays for England Under-19s on their recent tour to Bangladesh.

Hoggard, who played in 67 Test matches during a successful international career, is likely to make his decision known in the next day or so.

He is understood to have visited the north of the county with club officials at the end of last week to look at property, suggesting that the offer Leicestershire have tabled is at least a competitive one.