SOMERSET director of cricket Brian Rose believes the county have more than enough talent to fill the void left by Ian Blackwell.

The explosive batsman and left-arm spinner joined county champions Durham in November and Rose confirmed the county would not be looking to sign a replacement.

Rose said the club must rely on developing burgeoning talent and expects one of the Cidermen’s youngsters to fill his shoes.

Rose said: “I have got every faith in the talent we have already got in the club so I am not concerned about what has happened this winter.

“We are building this club, developing the stands and at the same time we are developing our team.

“We cannot be overly dependent on one player, whoever it is or however talented they are.

“It is part and parcel of a club’s development to bring along young players. We have to produce our own players who can step up and fill big shoes.

“What we have got to do is to make sure the younger, talented guys who are coming up in the side – players like Pete Trego and Craig Kieswetter – expand their game and now take responsibility. This is a huge opportunity for them.

“We have got Neil Edwards and Arul Suppiah coming up on the rails and I think these guys are going to come up to the mark.

“We have got two leg spinners on the staff (Michael Munday and Max Waller) and we have also got an international off-spinner (Omari Banks) who has played for the West Indies, in addition to Arul Suppiah and Wes Durston who can both bowl spin as well.

“What has happened (Blackwell’s departure) gives us the opportunity to play Munday or Waller as a leg spinner option or play Omari Banks and bat him down at nine or ten.

“We have also seen how effective Zander de Bruyn’s bowling was at the end of the season – in fact I think he was under bowled last season – so with him batting at five and Trego at six, with both bowling as well, this is another great opportunity.

“I don’t think other teams are going to enjoy playing against Somerset because we are going to be very difficult to beat. And, if we can develop one or two of our younger players, we could even win the Championship in 2009.”

Rose confirmed Somerset would not be looking to sign any new players before the start of the season.

He said: “There is nobody available who you would snap your fingers and say they would be great.

“In 2010, 11 or 12 we may be looking for an overseas player but what we have got to think about is how we are going to be competitive in 2009.”