WITH the disappointment of 2007 behind us everyone at the club is looking forward with real optimism to 2008. Off the field we have seen some huge changes and the re-development of Sophia Gardens is set to be completed in early March.

I accompanied a group of new sponsors on a stadium tour before Christmas and was immediately struck by the enormity of the pavilion.

It has three levels which include a museum, reception area, 12 hospitality boxes, and a new business club. The dressing rooms are on the top floor along with a small gym, players dining room, and a bar and restaurant for the premier members.

The home dressing room is huge and all the players have already tried to eye their spot for the new season and beyond.

Cricketers are a superstitious bunch and you'll always find that players will want to claim a spot in the dressing room as their own.

Someone like Robert Croft would have had the same corner for over 15 years, so you can see the importance of finding a new home.

Matthew Maynard has already devised a system for this, deciding that the most senior player will have the opportunity to go in first and will have 30 seconds to find his new area until the next goes in.

I've already worked out that I'm roughly about mid-table so there should be enough space, although Mark Wallace who is one ahead of me in the order has assured me he will find us a huge area to pitch camp.

The new stadium has been built to attract international cricket to Sophia Gardens, bringing regular and substantial income to the club. With the ground now being completed to international standard, the players and staff of the club are going to benefit from the facilities all year round.

I feel this will bring a more professional feel to the club as a whole and especially to the players with state of the art changing rooms, shower facilities, and gym.

With the club progressing off the field, developments on the field have also taken place with a string of new signings. The biggest of them being current England international Jamie Dalrymple.

This was a fantastic signing for the club as there were also other counties chasing his signature. It's given everyone at the club a huge lift that he decided to join Glamorgan. I think it also shows our ambition to become more competitive.

Jamie has played 27 one day internationals for England and brings some vital experience to the side .

Also the additions of Matthew Wood and Adam Shantry give us more strength in depth. Matthew is an opening batsman who has signed from Yorkshire. He has played 128 first class games and again adds experience to our top order.

Adam is a left arm swing bowler and was signed from Warwickshire in the close season. With the loss of Simon Jones and Andrew Davies we needed to bolster the seam bowling department and he will also add useful variety to our attack.

With the signing of Jason Gillespie as our overseas player now confirmed, we have as balanced and potent an attack as anyone on the circuit. Jason's bowling ability goes without saying, but I am particularly exited by what he will bring us off the field.

Reports from his two-year spell at Yorkshire are that he is a great team man and will add an extra element of experience to our dressing room. Of course the opportunity to learn from one of the world's best, and most experienced seamers does not come along everyday, and I for one will be trying to glean as much from Dizzy' as I possibly can.

It was also encouraging to see Mike Powell back in training and in the nets last week. He has now fully recovered from his frightening ordeal last June after having a rib taken out due to continually blocking a vein in his upper arm. It feels like we have signed another new player.

With the new faces on the field, we also have some new faces off the pitch. A new coaching staff has been put in place with Matthew Maynard now installed as cricket manager. Matt will be in charge of all cricket throughout the club and is currently planning our pre season schedule.

Adrian Shaw has remained in his role as first team coach with Steve Watkin taking charge of the second XI and also being the club's bowling coach.

Richard Almond has been promoted to academy director and will assist Adrian and Matt as batting coach.

On the medical side, we have another new face in Rob Ahmun, our strength and conditioning coach, and physio Dean Conway has returned to Glamorgan after spending the last 11 years with England.

The club is also supported by the Professional Cricketers Association in providing an athlete advisor with ex-player Ian Thomas filling this role.

I have also read recently that Matthew Elliot is interested in coming back to Glamorgan, if the club can manage to sign Matthew I can't see any reason why we can't compete for a trophy this year. With the new stadium, new players and a reshuffled coaching staff there is a real optimism in the camp.

There was an air of excitement when we heard our first game will be at Lord's on April 23 - an interesting fixture for Jamie Dalrymple who left Middlesex to join us, I'm sure he'll get a warm welcome!

From a personal point of view I can't wait to get the whites on again after so long on the sidelines. It has been such a frustrating time but I feel the experience has taught me a lot and made me a stronger individual.