DEVON'S top brass are due to meet tonight (Thursday) to pick a successor to departed skipper Neil Hancock.

Hancock, who has been in charge for the past two seasons, handed his notice in last week.

The twin pressures of a busy day job and a hectic family life for the father of three have been blamed by the Australian-born all-rounder for his decision to stand aside.

He recently left Sidmouth to join Premier rivals Bovey Tracey, whose ground is nearer his Newton Abbot home, to save travelling time on match days.

Hancock's decision to quit had been widely expected ever since he missed last season's Minor Counties final win over Cambridgeshire at March Town CC in the Fens.

The final is a four-day fixture and Hancock couldn't get the final day off work to play. He had hoped to play in the first three days and part of the fourth, but Devon would not pick him on that basis.

Bovey Tracey's Chris Bradley led Devon in Hancock's absence and is widely expected to take over as skipper for the season ahead.

Roger Newman, Devon's director of cricket, described Bradley as a 'future Devon captain' last season and his views will count for a lot when the decision is made.

It is no secret Hancock felt let down by the Devon committee when they decided not to pick him for the final.

Whatever the tensions behind the scenes, Hancock and the county executive aren't dwelling on them.

Hancock has said he is sad to be going, and Devon's chief executive Neil Gamble has praised him for his efforts.

"As captain of Devon for the past two years, I have enjoyed the responsibility very much," said Hancock.

"I have had the privilege of captaining a very talented group of cricketers, who gave me unconditional support and a fantastic team spirit.

"These two factors contributed hugely to Devon's success.

"I would like to record my thanks to my family, my employers, my team- mates and to the many friends who have supported me during my time as captain of my adopted county.

Bidding farewell to Hancock, Devon's chief executive Neil Gamble said: "After two years of leading Devon, which culminated in the outstanding achievement of winning the 2011 Minor Counties Championship, Neil has sadly decided to step down as captain because of family and work commitments.

"The executive committee are grateful for the dedication and commitment Neil has shown both as a player and more recently as county captain during a period of renewed success for the club."

The appointment of Devon's captain is a committee job, not one delegated to the membership at the county club's annual meeting.

The rules were changed almost 30 years ago when a huge row broke out at a meeting over the successor to Barrie Matthews. To avoid public squabbles in future, the task was delegated to a cricket management sub-committee.

Hancock, Australian by birth but a resident in the UK for more than 10 years, was the man Devon turned to after Bob Dawson stood down at the end of then 2009 season.

A hard-hitting batsman and lively fast bowler, Hancock appeared for Somerset in the early days of Twenty20 cricket and also featured for the Unicorns in the Clydesdale Bank Pro 40 series in 2010.

Hancock played for Devon in the C&G Trophy from 1999-2005 and won two man of the match Gold Awards, against Berkshire at Torquay on his debut and Lancashire at Exmouth in 2003.

He became eligible to play in the Minor Counties Championship in 2004 and went on to play in 30 games. Hancock was a member of the side that defeated Buckinghamshire at Exmouth in the 2006 final.

Hancock was a Lord's winner with Devon in 2008, when his 32-ball half- century contributed to beating Berkshire in the Minor Counties KO Cup final.