Kent’s captain Sam Northeast is reportedly weighing up his future at the club after being told he is not the club’s preferred choice of captain.

According to The Times, the 28-year-old has been informed unofficially by the club’s hierarchy that he is not their preferred choice of captain for the next season.

The report also suggests that he won’t be considered for captaincy unless he signs a one-year contract extension.

Northeast was recently selected to play three England Lions matches against West Indies A in March 2018.

He spoke after his selection of this being a “step in the right direction” for his hopes of playing for England.

The was a suggestion in The Times report that he wants to play in Division One to enhance his chances of playing Test cricket.

However, these claims have not been attributed to a source and it is unclear how authentic they are.

Outgoing CEO of the club, Jamie Clifford, told the paper that no official decision would be taken until a main committee meeting on January 22.

UPDATE (December 24, 10.19am): A club spokesman said: “The captaincy of the club is an annual appointment by the general committee and will be confirmed early in the New Year.”