The Irish Cricket Union (ICU) has decided to appoint a full-time professional chief executive, and has established a sub-committee to draw up job specifications for the completely new post. "We anticipate that whoever gets the job will be market-orientated, and we expect that the post will be filled by September of next year," said ICU honorary secretary John Wright yesterday.

In another development, the ICU have decided to appoint a vice-chairman of cricket to serve in that post for a two-year period before succeeding the chairman, whose appointment will also be for two years. The two voluntary posts will be filled by next February, when the present chairman of cricket, Gavin Craig, retires.

In future, the chairman of cricket, chairman of finance, honorary secretary and honorary treasurer will be empowered to vote at executive meetings. These developments will be ratified at the ICU's annual general meeting next February.

Next season, the interprovincial championship will feature four teams - Leinster, Munster, North and North-West.