Departing Radlett captain Jono McLean believes he is leaving the club in safe hands after their young players stepped up to help the Cobden Hill outfit retain the Hertfordshire League Premier Division title on Saturday.

Radlett came through a tense Play-Off Final against North Mymms at Home Park to make sure the silverware they won 12 months earlier will remain in WD7 for another year following a four-wicket victory in the final.

It has been a season of change for Radlett, with the long-serving Shane Burger returning to South Africa at the start of this month and now McLean, who has been with the side for the past four seasons, has elected to call it quits too.

In four years with the club and 78 league outings, McLean scored 2,686 runs at an average of 48.84 an innings. His top score was an unbeaten 143, scored the season before last, and on six occasions he hit a century.

His final innings did not go to plan, though. Out for a duck to leave Radlett faltering on 17 for three, the youngsters took over to deliver a four-wicket win, secured thanks to the runs of William Wright (35 not out) and Johnny Armitage (28).

On that basis alone, the South African is convinced he leaves Radlett in a healthy position.

McLean said: “The players are there for the club to kick on. Just looking at that Play-Off Final it was the youngsters who put their hands up to perform well against Mymms and win us the game.

“To see them doing so well in such an important game shows that we have what it takes going forward and that the future of the club is safe.”

Reflecting on the victory, which was secured after Radlett restricted Mymms to 125 for eight before getting home with four wickets to spare, he said: “I’m really happy and very proud of how we have played throughout the season.

“It was definitely a release [of emotion] but it was hard work and the guys were really happy they came through to win in a pressure situation.”

Radlett comfortably topped the league standings after 18 rounds of fixtures before coming through a semi-final against Welwyn Garden City a fortnight ago to set up a winner-takes-all showdown against North Mymms.

“The play-offs are tense but they’re also exciting,” admitted McLean. “It’s meant there are probably six or seven team in contention on the last day which makes it a bit more exiting for those teams in the middle of the league.”

Unlike former teammate Burger, who left to take up a coaching position with Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland in his homeland, McLean has called it a day in order to take a step back from cricket.

“I’m stopping playing,” he confirmed. “I’ve had a fantastic time with Radlett, I’ve loved every minute and I’ve played with a great bunch of guys.

“I want to start doing other things on weekends, like playing golf, and I just feel it’s the right time to move on.

“It was a tough decision but it’s been great to see how the players’ games have improved and how much the club has grown – but now I’m looking forward to putting my feet up.

“We’ve built up a good squad here and they are good enough to go on and achieve more success.”