NEW first-team coach Alex Gidman revealed how a “brutally honest” approach is being used to break Worcestershire’s yo-yo culture in the County Championship.

Gidman steps up permanently this season having overseen success in white-ball formats during 2018.

Relegation from Division One and T20 Blast glory means expectations are high in the league and limited-over cricket but Gidman is keen to focus on a bigger picture.

“Coaches need to have ambition and drive and I am not different,” said Gidman.

“I guess it is that competitive streak that I still have from playing, I want these guys to achieve everything they can in the game.

“I think we are good enough to compete with the best teams in the country day in, day out, not just for the odd day here or there, but that’s not going to happen tomorrow.

“The short term is exciting in the sense of trying to create that culture and the environment where we start to expect those performances from ourselves more consistently.

“Naturally, I have an eye on what I think this group can achieve but a lot can change between now and tomorrow, let alone over the next two years.

“We will be doing our best to do the basics really well but also evolve, try to get better and challenge the guys.

“There are those daily tweaks and more fundamental changes that we need to be honest about. Being brutally honest in sport is not always that easy, it means some ugly practices and being aware of some of the areas we are not that good at.

“For a group of sports people and coaches to accept they have weaknesses in certain areas is not easy. We are getting there and we will try to iron those out to make them areas of strength now.

“Hopefully that will give us a group that is confident and feels that they have the belief to perform against every team in the country, day in day out. That is the challenge of professional cricket.”

Gidman takes the reins from Kevin Sharp who is taking a wider development role but insists little has changed behind the scenes.

“Alan (Richardson) and I worked closely with the white-ball cricket last year and that was where we established that relationship. The lads got used to me being around,” Gidman added.

“Because I was in that environment last season, it was a case of baby steps to get to where I am now. While I never assumed it would happen, it feels quite natural that it has.”