Nottinghamshire have continued to prepare for their return to Division One of the LV County Championship after agreeing new contracts with captain Chris Read and all-rounder Paul Franks.

Read, who was named as successor to Stephen Fleming at the end of the summer, has put pen to paper on a new three-year deal, while Franks has signed until the end of 2009.

Director of Cricket Mick Newell said: “Chris and Paul are both integral parts of the squad at Notts and I’m delighted they have signed new contracts.

“Our plans for the future are very much built around the two of them. They will be key members of the team in all competitions.

“I believe Chris will prove to be an excellent captain and is ready to take on the challenge of leading the side, while Paul showed encouraging signs in the summer that he is returning to his best form.”

Read was named as vice-captain to Fleming at the start of the 2007 season and responded with 1,001 first class runs at an average of 52.68, memorably becoming the first Notts wicketkeeper to score a double hundred with 240 against Essex.

He said: “Nottinghamshire is very much the place where I want to be and hopefully I will be spending the rest of my career here.

“Being offered the captaincy was a proud moment for me, but I would have signed a new contract regardless of whether that had happened or not.

“I am confident that the squad we have in place at Trent Bridge is one capable of challenging for trophies, and I look forward to lifting some silverware as captain in the future.”

Franks made his Notts debut in 1996 and was awarded a benefit for 2007. He is five short of 400 first class wickets in his career and has played once for England in a One-day International at Trent Bridge in 2000.

He said: “I’m delighted to have secured my future with Notts, at what is an exciting time to be at the club.

“We are looking forward to our return to Division One and I am aiming to play a full part in helping Chris begin a new and successful era at Trent Bridge.”

Newell added that fast bowler Simon Francis, who was signed during the season as cover for injuries, has not been offered a new contract and has been released.