CRAIG de Weymarn has relinquished his post as skipper of Bournemouth after being appointed head physiotherapist by Hampshire Cricket.

De Weymarn replaces Australian Andrew Nealon who has left the Rose Bowl to join Roy Hodgson’s backroom staff at Premier League Liverpool.

The 28-year-old had been shadowing Nealon for most of the summer and had also been working alongside coaches Jon Ayling and Tony Middleton at Hampshire second XI matches.

De Weymarn led Bournemouth to glory in last season’s ECB Twenty/20 Cockspur Cup and also hit the winning runs in their victory over Ockbrook & Borrowash in the final at the County Ground in Derby.

He also skippered the Lions to victory in the 2008 Southern Electric Twenty/20 Cup in his debut season as captain.

De Weymarn vacates his position with Bournemouth sitting pretty at the top of the Southern Premier League and also in the semi-final of this year’s SPL Twenty/20 Cup. He will remain as a playing member of the Chapel Gate outfit, although his new role will restrict his availability.

De Weymarn, who played Minor Counties cricket for Shropshire, was also on the medical staff at Hampshire Rugby and has served with the Territorial Army in Afghanistan.

Dorset’s Nick Park has replaced de Weymarn for the remainder of this season with the position expected to be reviewed during the winter.

Park will today take the reins for the first time when Bourne-mouth host Ventnor in the SPL and will also take charge for tomorrow’s Twenty/20 Cup semi-final at Bashley (3pm).