Tunbridge Wells finished seventh in the Premier Division last season

Tunbridge Wells cricket club are targeting the Kent League Premier Division title within three years following the appointment of former Kent spinner Rob Ferley as their new coach.

The goal reflects a new level of ambition at The Nevill. Although the club were founder members of the Kent League in 1970, they have not won the top flight in any of its guises since 1988 and have only won the title outright three times.

“We’re up against very strong sides like Bromley and Hartley, but he [Ferley] sees a lot of potential,” said chairman Stephen Green.

“There’s a very good chance we could win the league in the next three years.”

Green also believes Ferley can bring a more professional ethos to the club.

“He’s a very positive character who’s absolutely committed to cricket,“ he said. “He’s already been working with us for a few weeks and after four or five training sessions the feedback we’ve had has been very, very positive.”

Turning the Wells into a title-contender will not be easy. They put together a sustained challenge in 2009 before eventually coming third, but flirted heavily with relegation in 2010 as they finished eighth and made only a marginal improvement to seventh last year.

However much Ferley can improve the Wells in the short term, the reality is for the past decade the Premier Division has been dominated by sides packed with well-paid former county and even international players.

Last year’s champions Hartley had a huge squad which included the former England bowler Min Patel, former Kent batsman James Hockley and the current England Lion Matt Coles.

Ferley will not be able to play this season at least because he had already agreed to play for Cranleigh in Surrey, though the Wells are hopeful he might be persuaded to play in 2013 and that his contacts will bring in the kind of players who can help them challenge again.

They will not, however, be throwing money at their first team.

Green said: “In the long term our strategy is to bring players through our youth set up and help them make the most of their potential.”

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