There has much talk about what the future holds, some of it conjecture, some of it hard fact.

Lancashire have set in motion a radical re-development of Old Trafford that they hope will ensure their future as an international venue and place them back on the highly valued Ashes circuit in 2013.

Most radically, the club are planning to introduce a new, larger square with wickets running north to south instead of their current east-to-west direction.

Dominic Cork's departure – he has since signed a two-year contract with Hampshire – is still the subject of debate.

There has even been conjecture in some quarters that Michael Vaughan, who stepped down as England captain during the summer, could leave Yorkshire in 2009, with a possible port of call being across the Pennines from Yorkshire following a similar path trod in the past by the likes of Barry Wood, David Byas and Gary Keedy.

Vaughan already has a link – albeit a shade tenuous – in that he was actually born within the Red Rose boundary, hailing originally from Salford.

Vaughan's contract with Yorkshire is up next season, leading to talk that his future could lie elsewhere.

Inveigled into making a statement, Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson played a typically straight bat at the time the 'Vaughan Free' story broke.

"We're aware, like other counties, that he is available and coming towards the end of his contract, but we've certainly not spoken to him.
"You can never say never in cricket."

Whether or not such an unlikely move every materialises, there will be much for Lancashire members to ponder at the annual meeting held later in the year.

Cork's departure caused plenty of controversy at Old Trafford, with Stuart Law speaking out against it, and putting his captaincy in question.

However, Watkinson is keen to let young cricketers develop through the ranks, and the way Lancashire completed the season – when youngsters were given their head – gave cause for optimism in an otherwise dismal campaign.

For instance, Oliver Newby certainly rose to the occasion and stood up to be counted in the final two games of the 2008 season.

And Karl Brown, another of the younger brigade, was preferred for the vital, end-of-season match with Kent, with Lou Vincent overlooked – in the final analysis the selection proved sound, as the 20-year-old from Bolton hit 40 valuable runs.

It was a good job that people like Newby came up trumps, for if Lancashire had gone down it could easily have cost Watkinson his job.

Lancashire's biggest failing during the summer was in 2008 was clear for all to see – they had absolutely no chance of winning the title due to the fact that they accrued just 24 batting points, a pathetic effort, the core of the problem being that too many players had dips in form at the same time.

Lancashire have given new deals to 10 young players as they look to the future, and soon an announcement will be made on contracts of a number of senior players.

One of those players is Law, who is now out of contract and becomes an all-year-round cricketer by joining his Indian Cricket League side the Chennai Superstars.