Nottinghamshire have responded to their encouraging start to the season by handing new three year deals to cricket manager Clive Rice and his assistant Mick Newell.

The inspirational South African has been a key figure in transforming Notts' fortunes - just as he did as a player in the 1980s - and Trent Bridge officials want him to stay and help bring the club more trophies.

Said Cricket Committee Chairman Stuart Foster: "Clive's existing agreement expires at the end of this season and we were keen sort things out at an early stage. We are delighted that he and Mick Newell have committed themselves for an additional three years and we are confident that it will be a very successful period for Nottinghamshire.

"There was a big job to be done when Clive returned to Trent Bridge and as always with him, he tackled it in a very positive manner. We believe that we now have a team capable of challenging for trophies on all fronts and much of the credit for that must go to Clive."

Despite the disappointment of two defeats over the weekend, Notts make their first semi-final appearance in any competition since 1990 when they play Surrey on June 25 in the Benson & Hedges Cup - and the feeling is that Rice has put together the strongest squad of players for many years.

Notts struggled badly in the first season after he was brought in to succeed Alan Ormrod. But there were real signs of progress last season, when they won promotion in the Norwich Union League.

As Rice said: "There's a wave of enthusiasm at Trent Bridge - on and off the pitch - and I want to stay on and be a part of it. I took some persuading to come back as manager in the first place but having committed myself to do so, I always saw it as a long-term job.

"Three years was never going to be long enough to do all that I wanted to achieve so I'm delighted to be invited to extend my contract. Hopefully we will have plenty of cause to celebrate before that one expires."

© CricInfo