By Martin Gough

It used to be easy to gauge Derbyshire's chances. If England all-rounder Dominic Cork was in the line-up, they were slim; if not, they were bleak.

Houghton's arrival ended Cork's 14 years with Derbyshire

But for the first time since 1989 Cork is out of the equation and there is a new king in town in the shape of director of cricket David Houghton.

When the former Zimbabwe captain and coach arrived last September, Cork realised the threat to his omnipotence and beat a noisy retreat to Lancashire.

Out went tales of dressing-room division; in came Houghton's team ethic.

"We're trying to build up a new team and that happens through spirit and the desire to play for Derbyshire," Houghton told BBC Sport.

"We're trying to get to where guys actually enjoy coming to work and they enjoy being a squad together."

The question of how to make up that squad has been Houghton's off-season challenge.

It's not for me to dictate policy on who's qualified to play as an Englishman and who isn't David Houghton

And it has been made more difficult by season-ending injuries to Australian duo Damien Wright and Michael di Venuto, who was to captain the side in his fourth season.

In their place are another Aussie pair in Chris Rogers, like Di Venuto a left-handed opener, and Jonathan Moss from state champions Victoria.

Moss, who hit 972 first-class runs and averaged 29.63 with the ball this winter, is expected to slot into the middle order and be the fourth seamer.

But he is not a direct replacement for Cork or Wright - both strike bowlers who batted.

"Out-and-out fast bowlers are not that easy to come by and those that are available tend to be playing for their national teams," Houghton argues.

"Moss will do a job with the ball - I'm sure he will pick up 40 or 50 wickets - but he will add runs.

DERBYSHIRE 2004 Director of Cricket: Dave Houghton Captain: Luke Sutton Overseas players: Jonathon Moss, Chris Rogers Players in: Paul Havell, Anthony Botha, James Bryant, Jonathon Moss, Chris Rogers Players out: Dominic Cork, Jason Kerr, Karl Krikken, Lian Wharton

"Maybe we'll take a little longer to bowl sides out but hopefully we'll have a few more runs to play with."

He defends his decision not to pick up a star name by saying: "I wanted the overseas players to be here for six months; I didn't want to be chopping and changing."

And he is similarly pragmatic about adding to the rest of the squad, signing several foreign professionals who carry the right passports but could not play for England.

Pakistani batsman Hasan Adnan is one such player tipped to spring a surprise this season.

"It's not for me to dictate policy on who's qualified to play as an Englishman and who isn't," Houghton says.

"I just pick those who are available and try to do the best job I can.

Opener Rogers is a last-minute replacement for Di Venuto

"There's no point in me spending the budget buying two big names, win the Second Division this year and come down again when we've run out of money."

With wicket-keeper Luke Sutton at the helm, carrying the ringing endorsement of his coach, Derbyshire are instead focussed on competing in the top tier in three years' time.

Houghton says it was Cork's choice to leave the Racecourse ground after six seasons as captain, but admits the player would have had to concede some of his power.

The team are expected to pick up the slack, with an apparently simple formula to cover his 593 runs and 50 wickets in the Championship last year.

"It just means the bowlers have got to pick up an extra 10 or 15 wickets each and the batters will have to pick up another 100 runs apiece," the new boss claims.

Cork could always inspire his team-mates to greater achievements; now they need to inspire each other.