Paul Farbrace believes Kent have the potential to become a real force again but only if their promising clutch of youngsters are given sufficient time to develop.

Kent’s director of cricket admitted relegation from LV County Championship Division 1 last summer hurt everyone at the club but said it would be wrong for supporters to ignore the many positives that came out of the campaign.

The emergence of Matt Coles, 20, as an all-rounder of genuine ability was one, while Farbrace hopes that Alex Blake’s maiden century in the final Championship match at Yorkshire is a sign of things to come from the 22-year-old left-hander.

Throw in rookie left-arm seamer Ashley Shaw, 19, offspinner Adam Riley, 19, all-rounder Adam Ball, 18, and batting trio Chris Piesley, 19, James Goodman, 20, and Daniel Bell-Drummond, 17, and the county’s long-term prospects certainly look bright.

Farbrace, 43, is about to start his second full season in charge after succeeding South African Graham Ford and says that unlike the end of last season, when disappointing results on the pitch were compounded by the club’s financial plight, there is a great deal to be optimistic about.

He added: "The exciting thing for all of us (at Kent) is that we know we genuinely have a group of seven, eight, nine youngsters who could do very, very well.

"For the senior players and coaches, we know that if we can create the right environment for these youngsters to play in and the senior players put in consistent performances, we have a group who are capable of achieving things.

"I’m not necessarily saying this year but over the next two to three years I think Kent will do very well.

"I’d like to think in four to five years, the club will be challenging in the top division consistently for silverware but people need to be patient.

"We backed our young players last year and we are going to do the same again this summer.

"We’ve got a plan and we know what it is. It’s home grown players being taught to play the right way with quality senior players around them with the best, most experienced and talented captain in domestic cricket leading the way."

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