SOMERSET boss Guy Lavender says its a ‘fantastic’ time to be involved with the county club.

While the Somerset squad are starting to up the tempo of their training for the forthcoming season, there is a lot of action going on away from the playing front, with the construction work at the St James Street End of the County Ground.

Lavender, the club’s chief executive, said: “The Phoenix is rising now from the ashes of the Old Pavilion and the steel framework for the new Somerset Pavilion has gone up extremely quickly.

“R.G. Spiller the contractors are doing a good job. It’s on time and also on budget and once the steel goes up you start to get a picture of what the dimensions of the building are going to be, so its all very exciting.

“This is a fantastic time to be at Somerset because all of a sudden we have got the new pavilion being built and then in 2017 we will be hosting international cricket at the County Ground and the two are linked together.

“More importantly is that this new building is going to be a great addition to the ground and it will be very exciting when its done and finished and then of course all of the preparations and thoughts will turn to hosting our first England match in 2017.

“The new season just around the corner is more exciting than anything else, because we have got a new director of cricket in charge and some more signings still to make over the winter period.

“And in a way there’s perhaps slightly less expectation than previous years. All of which is exciting in its own way.”

Somerset’s left arm spinner, George Dockrell, claimed four victims to help Ireland beat Afghanistan by three wickets in their opening match of the Dubai Triangular Series at the weekend.

Dockrell’s 4-35 from 8.2 overs helped bowl the opposition out for 180.

All-rounder Josh Davey is also out in Dubai, playing for Scotland the same tournament, and was in action on Wednesday against Afghanistan.

Cricket fans are reminded that the discounted prices on Somerset membership expire on February 2.

For more details log on to www.somersetcounty.co.uk, call into the County Ground or ring 0845-3371875.