Steve Kirby has admitted he would be "very interested" in signing for Hampshire.

Fast bowler Kirby is available after leaving Yorkshire at his own request last week, when the club accepted his decision with "great reluctance".

Kirby still had a year to run on his contract at Headingley and a number of counties have already expressed an interest in the fiery Lancastrian.

The Bury-born right-armer took 184 first-class wickets at 28.42 for Yorkshire after being plucked from club cricket in 2001, when he helped his adopted county to a first championship title in 33 years, with 47 wickets in ten games.

Now Kirby, who is 27 next week, is planning to boost his England chances with his second county.

He said: "I'm a free agent and have had three or four offers. At the moment I'm just exploring my options. It's very early days but I'm excited about the future, and if they were interested in securing my services I would definitely be interested in talking to Hampshire. It's a club that's going places so it would be a very attractive proposition."

A strike bowler is at the top of Hampshire's list of priorities as Alan Mullally is unlikely to be a regular in the championship, while Chris Tremlett has yet to prove that he can play a full season injury free.

But former England fast bowler Alex Tudor, 26, is also an option after being released by Surrey with a year to run on his contract.