Chris Schofield appearing for Friday's hearing in Manchester

Former England spin bowler Chris Schofield has won his case against Lancashire County Cricket Club after claiming unfair dismissal.

Schofield was released at the end of the 2004 season, but claimed he was given no prior notice of the Lancashire general committee's decision.

The 26-year-old has so far been unable to find another club.

He said: "It's a big relief to have this over with after six months. I am a cricketer - that's what I want to do."

Richard Bevan, of the Professional Cricketers Association, said: "Chris can now get back on with his life and try to secure another county contract.

"But he is well aware it is a competitive environment and it will be a tough task for him."

Schofield, who appeared in two Tests without success for England in 2000, played in three County Championship matches last year, mainly as a batsman in an injury-hit side.

He argued that he had not been given sufficient warning of his impending release, which hampered his ability to find alternative employment with another county.

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The three-man panel at the employment tribunal in Manchester found in his favour following a day of final submissions from both sides.

Lancashire had claimed if they had followed proper employment law procedure of verbal warnings and a final warning they would have affected Schofield's confidence and his ability to perform to the highest standards.

The decision not to renew his contract was taken by the county's cricket committee on 31 August and ratified by the general committee on 6 September.

But it was not relayed to the player until 23 September.

I am going back to playing for my old club at Littleborough as an amateur Chris Schofield

Schofield would have been told three days earlier, said manager Mike Watkinson, but was recovering from a broken toe incurred on 2 September and had been given time off to go on holiday.

Schofield believes he would have found employment elsewhere had he been informed of the club's intentions sooner.

Now, however, club cricket beckons.

"I am going back to playing for my old club at Littleborough as an amateur," he said.

"They play twice every weekend whilst most clubs around here play only once and I think I need to play as much cricket as I can.

"I have not got a job at the moment and I have come to the conclusion that I probably won't be playing county cricket this summer, so I am off to the Job Centre on Monday."