KEVIN Sharp feels “ready” for his second shot as a head coach and reckons Worcestershire can benefit from his stint with Yorkshire.

Sharp was presented with the task of taking over from Wayne Clark for the 2003 season after a lengthy spell out of the game.

But 15 years on, the former second-team coach feels he has the experience of the modern game and man management skills required after moving into the New Road hotseat last month.

“I went back to Yorkshire in 2003 having been out of the first-class game for about eight years," he said.

“I went back as batting coach and just prior to the season, they released the first-team coach and I was asked to take on the role for that season.

“To be honest I wasn’t quite ready for it then. I’d been working in development, at Bradford Leeds University for two years.

“I’d been doing some one-to-one coaching with the Yorkshire players so I was asked to go back as a batting coach but it suddenly changed prior to that season.”

“Let’s just say in the past 15 years I’ve been back in the first-class game, I’ve learnt a lot more about the modern game and the management of people.

“I think I was just a bit naive to the game then. When I left the game in 1993, I went back into it in 2003 and it was 10 years and the game had changed so much.

“Probably from a tactical and perhaps management scenario, I wasn’t ready then.

“Now I’ve been back in the game for most of that 15 years and I love working at this club, I adore it here and having had the conversations we’ve had, about my job description if you like, I feel ready.

“I’m 58 and I’m ready. Has it given me a new lease of life? Absolutely. I feel very motivated, I’m buzzing.”

Sharp also believes last season's second string will be well equipped to join him in making the step up if required in 2018.

The County finished third in the Second XI Championship, came within a whisker of qualifying for the semi-finals in the 50-over competition and improved their T20 record.

“The white ball stuff definitely improved and developed," he added. "We were unfortunate not to reach the semi-final of the 50-over competition after some excellent performances.

“The T20 was not as good yet we still managed to win some games which we didn’t in the previous season.

“You saw some of the younger lads who have played for a year or two developing in that and learning the skills required to play in that format of the game.

“The key thing in second XI cricket is to prepare guys to play first-team cricket and have guys who are ready."