FORMER Kent wicketkeeper Paul Nixon is looking forward to being among old friends again after signing a three-year deal to return to Leicestershire.

Nixon, an integral part of the Grace Road side that won the championship pennant twice inside three years at the end of the 1990s, joined Kent in 2000 to help secure the Norwich Union League title in his second season at the St Lawrence ground.

But after helping Kent clinch only their second title in 24 years, Nixon was controversially released in September after averaging 37.61 with the bat and claimed 53 first-class victims.

He said: "I'm obviously delighted to have settled my future and to be going back to my roots. Obviously I wondered if my time was over with Leicestershire, but in this game you never say never.

"Wherever I play I like to fully commit, as I did with Kent. I moved down and bought a house near Canterbury and my wife got a job here, but now we'll be looking to move back to Leicester."

Another of the five to be axed, ex-England pace bowler Martin McCague has joined Faversham-based brewers Shepherd Neame.

McCague, who is wrapping up his benefit season, has joined the Court Street brewers as a national accounts executive promoting the Spitfire bitter brand across the country.