IT’S the end of an era at Kidderminster Victoria after Jonathan Wright stepped down as captain.

The gifted all-rounder ends ten years of leading from the front at Chester Road after becoming the club’s longest serving skipper since the Second World War.

Stepping into his shoes will be gifted batsmen and former Worcestershire run scorer Matt Pardoe.

Wright’s tenure has coincided with the regeneration of the club, guiding the firsts back to the Birmingham League Premier after four years in Division One.

In 2009, KVCC won the Graham Williamson Trophy and 12 months later they came close to their first championship since 1976 only to be pipped to it by Shrewsbury on the final day of the season.

Now he’s aiming to focus on the playing side and let the new skipper take the reins.

“This is just part of the natural progression, I just felt it was time to step down and let someone younger with new ideas and enthusiasm come in,” said Wright.

“Ten years is a long time for anyone to captain a side so it was time to step down and let Matt have a go.

“I still feel there is two or three years left for me as a player and that there is still a lot I want to achieve so I am up for selection.”

He added: “My biggest achievement was helping the team to promotion after four years in Division One and re-establishing Kidderminster as a top Premier League side.”

Pardoe takes over hoping to help add fresh impetus to a young team which has shown signs it can compete with the best but has lacked consistency.

The 23 year old, who is set to start working towards his coaching badges, was released by Worcestershire after nine years. He played in 56 first class matches and top scored with 102.

The Stourbridge-based skipper started at Stourbridge as a junior then moved to Belbroughton. He had one season at Halesowen in the Birmingham League before joining Kidderminster in 2009.

He said: “It’s a huge honour to captain Kidderminster Victoria, in terms of the area and Birmingham League they are a big club.

“I’ve got big shoes to fill but it’s a huge honour to be named captain and I am looking forward to the challenge. We’ve got a lot of talented young players and I want us to be pushing up the table.”