WARWICKSHIRE'S new head coach John Widdowson has set his sights on making an immediate impression on the Bill Beaumont Cup, the top flight of the County Championship.

Warwickshire secured promotion last May and also won the County Championship Shield, the middle tier of the three level competition. They begin their Bill Beaumont Cup campaign against Lancashire at Preston Grasshoppers on Saturday May 3 and Widdowson insists that they are in it to win it.

"I've said to the players that we've bought a lottery ticket, now let's see if we can win the lottery," said Widdowson, who is also academy director at National One club Nottingham.

"We have to look at it that way. If nothing else then we have to look at making sure that we keep our place in this competition for next season.

"We are under no illusions about how difficult it is going to be staying up in the top level against three established counties like Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire.

"But the majority of players who helped us win the Shield last season have made themselves available again, they have stayed loyal to us and they are continuing to support the county."

Widdowson, Warwickshire's assistant coach last season, has stepped up to head coach following the resignation of Jim Thorp. He heads up a new coaching panel which includes former Coventry director of rugby Murray Henderson, Pete Glacken of Rugby Lions and John Munro of Nuneaton.

Warwickshire's other matches in the North group are against Yorkshire at Nuneaton on May 10 and Cheshire at Coventry on May 17. The winners of the North group will play the winners of the South in the final at Twickenham on June 1.