Somerset coaching role for Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor has been confirmed as Somerset's new fielding coach only 24 hours after reaching an out-of-court settlement with Gloucestershire over the release from his playing contract.

Brian Rose, Somerset's director of cricket, said: "Fielding has become extraordinarily important in all forms of cricket and it can be the make or break of any game so to bring in Chris, who has had many years of first-class experience and has become a specialist in what he is doing, is highly exciting.

"As pre-season has progressed it has become obvious what a difference a specialist coach like Chris can make. I am delighted with the work that has already been done and he will be a major contributor to our cricket this summer."

Taylor has worked as a fielding coach for the ECB during the off-season for the past five years and joined England's Performance Programme and Lions squads over the winter.

His future as a player at Gloucestershire depended on the club being granted planning permission to develop Nevil Road but the application was rejected by Bristol City Council in January, prompting Taylor's contract to be cancelled. Gloucestershire have since submitted revised plans.

Taylor was released with his form on a high. A former captain, he was Gloucestershire's leading run-scorer in 2011, making 1,139 runs at 40.67, as the county finished fourth in Division Two of the Championship.