GLOUCESTERSHIRE director of cricket John Bracewell has admitted the club had 'loftier ambitions' when he was first tempted back from New Zealand in February.

Bracewell led the county to six one-day trophies between 1998 and 2003, and he has been charged with reviving those glories.

While declaring himself satisfied with the club's progress in his first season back – they narrowly missed out on promotion in the County Championship and reached the FP Trophy semi-finals – he has warned supporters that the recession will limit the pace of any revolution.

"When I arrived the club had more money in the bank and the ambitions were perhaps a bit loftier," said Bracewell.

"We've all had to slow down and, while we are on course a year into our five-year plan, supporters will need to be patient.

With a multi-million pound regeneration of the County Ground in the pipeline, Gloucestershire's financial position has not been helped by bad weather at this year's Cheltenham Festival and falling crowds in the Twenty20 Cup.

However, Bracewell believes the 'silver lining' is the emergence of academy products David Payne and Chris Dent and ongoing improvements at youth level.

"Four of our academy kids were involved in the England Under-19 trials for the World Cup and two of them have made the early cut," he said.

Of more pressing concern for the Kiwi is addressing last season's batting frailties, with captain Alex Gidman the only member of the top six to score 1,000 first-class runs.

Bracewell said: "Certain individuals will have been disappointed with their contributions. We know and they know that they have to improve.

"We have a three-phase programme put in place for the winter. In the first phase we shall be examining the changes our batsmen need to make, the second will involve practicing those changes and the third will be testing them out.

"There is lot's of work to be done."