Worcestershire have still not given up hope of persuading unsettled wicketkeeper Jamie Pipe to stay at New Road, despite reports linking him with a move to Derbyshire.
Pipe, who spent seven summers at New Road in the wings waiting for Steve Rhodes to retire, has had a very tidy first full season behind the timbers.
But his batting form has simply not been solid enough and Worcestershire have turned to the greater run-making promise of England Under-19 man Steve Davies, who has been handed wicket-keeping duties for two of the past three County Championship matches.
Pipe, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, last week approached Worcestershire to ask permission to talk to other counties. And it is understood that preliminary discussions have already taken place between him and Derbyshire chief executive Tom Sears, the former Worcestershire commercial manager.
Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton said: "We are aware of interest from elsewhere in Pipey, but we have offered him a contract for next season and are still keen to sit down and talk to him about his future."
Derbyshire have gone in search of 27-year-old Pipe as a replacement for their captain/ wicketkeeper Luke Sutton, who has been linked with a move to both Lancashire and Warwickshire.
But there is also interest in Bradford-born Pipe from Yorkshire.
