RICHARD Morris relinquished the Bashley (Rydal) captaincy before vowing to throw his full support behind his successor.
The 27-year-old, named skipper in 2011, said that "increased work commitments" meant he could no longer continue in the role, writes Ned Payne of the Bournemouth Echo.
Newbury-based Morris, a national sales manager for clothing suppliers Serious Sport, will continue to play for the Bash and was due to feature in the New Forest derby against Lymington.
He said: "The reality is that I've got increased work commitments, I live 60 miles away from the club and I think it's the right time for someone else to take the captaincy on and start shaping it.
"I'm immensely proud of what we've done over the past four years, especially winning the Southern Electric T20 at the Ageas Bowl in 2012, and we have had some good finishes in the league whereas when I took over we were ninth.
"We've brought in a lot of new, young local cricketers and the results have been there on the field.
"We've made some great strides forward, but I have great work demands as well as the fact that I play Minor Counties Championship cricket for Berkshire on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
"I'm not sure I can dedicate the time I could to it three years ago and I think it's time for someone else to take it on.
"The timing might seem strange but it's something I have given thought to for a little while."
Morris is the second local Southern Electric Premier League skipper to step down this week after Ryan Beck relinquished the reins at New Milton.
Meanwhile, Morris hopes to be involved in the process to determine his successor and pledged his full support for the future skipper.
He added: "I will continue to play and I'm looking forward to supporting whoever takes it on.
"The cricket committee is going to sit down and come up with a list of names who we'd like to speak to about it.
"I'd like to be involved in that process and I think I will be, and whoever does get the job will have my full support."
Simon Watkins returned to the Bashley team and captained the side, while Berkshire’s James Morris (Richard’s elder brother) is also back in the fold.
The 27-year-old, named skipper in 2011, said that "increased work commitments" meant he could no longer continue in the role, writes Ned Payne of the Bournemouth Echo.
Newbury-based Morris, a national sales manager for clothing suppliers Serious Sport, will continue to play for the Bash and was due to feature in the New Forest derby against Lymington.
He said: "The reality is that I've got increased work commitments, I live 60 miles away from the club and I think it's the right time for someone else to take the captaincy on and start shaping it.
"I'm immensely proud of what we've done over the past four years, especially winning the Southern Electric T20 at the Ageas Bowl in 2012, and we have had some good finishes in the league whereas when I took over we were ninth.
"We've brought in a lot of new, young local cricketers and the results have been there on the field.
"We've made some great strides forward, but I have great work demands as well as the fact that I play Minor Counties Championship cricket for Berkshire on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
"I'm not sure I can dedicate the time I could to it three years ago and I think it's time for someone else to take it on.
"The timing might seem strange but it's something I have given thought to for a little while."
Morris is the second local Southern Electric Premier League skipper to step down this week after Ryan Beck relinquished the reins at New Milton.
Meanwhile, Morris hopes to be involved in the process to determine his successor and pledged his full support for the future skipper.
He added: "I will continue to play and I'm looking forward to supporting whoever takes it on.
"The cricket committee is going to sit down and come up with a list of names who we'd like to speak to about it.
"I'd like to be involved in that process and I think I will be, and whoever does get the job will have my full support."
Simon Watkins returned to the Bashley team and captained the side, while Berkshire’s James Morris (Richard’s elder brother) is also back in the fold.
