Gloucestershire return to winter training this week where they will receive a stark warning from captain Alex Gidman.

Though vastly improved in the Championship last term – they narrowly missed out on promotion – Gidman's side disappointed in the Twenty20 Cup and Pro40 League.

He said: "In one-day cricket we have to discover the secret to becoming more consistent.

"The Friends Provident campaign this summer was fantastic, barring the one game against Sussex when we were on the brink of a Lord's final.

"At that time we were the third or fourth best one-day team in the country, but it seems a while ago because our Twenty 20 and Pro40 campaigns proved such a disappointment.

"Twenty20 is a format which we really have to look at and work at hard. Our power hitting and skills with the ball need to improve if we are to compete well next season.

"It's a similar thing with the new 40-over league. We need to develop consistency in the way we bat and the bowlers have to address producing more effective yorkers, slower balls and bouncers."

Gidman has assured Gloucestershire CCC followers that the squad will be devoting most of their time to training and improving their skills this winter.

"We're on 12-month contracts now, so unless (director of cricket) John Bracewell gives permission for players to go away for cricketing purposes, we will be at home working on our game," he said.

"Will Porterfield may have some commitments with Ireland, we're hopeful Steve Kirby might get England recognition of some sort and Chris Taylor will be doing his fielding coaching with the England A team again, but for most of us it will be a case of getting down to some hard practice five days a week."

Before then, Gidman must undergo another operation on the ankle injury that has dogged him for the last two years.

Should it prove unsuccessful, the 28-year-old may have to quit bowling.

Gidman said: "This is not the first time my ankle has been operated on but it will definitely be the last.

"I cannot keep having surgery and, if this operation doesn't do the trick, then that's it.

"It will probably mean me carrying on as a batsman and not being able to bowl anymore.

"This is something I've battled with for a few years now and this is the last chance to put it right."

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire CCC have announced their Academy squads for the 2010 season.

Academy director Owen Dawkins said: "I am very excited by the potential of our Academy players.

"Our emerging players and junior academy players were put through a rigorous three-day trial recently and did very well.

"We will continue to test them during the winter and then blood some of them in the second XI next summer."

Five Gloucestershire Academy members received national recognition last summer – Craig Miles (England Under-15), Michael Beard (England Under-16), Graeme McCarter (Ireland Under-17 & Under-19s), Jack Taylor and Alex Spencer (England Development matches), while David Payne and Chris Dent are currently on tour in Bangladesh with the England Under-19 squad. Payne, Dent and Mitchell Wilson also made their first XI debuts in 2009.

Academy: Jack Taylor, Uzi Qureshi, Karan Kumar, Michael Beard, Mitchell Wilson, Alex Spencer, Graeme McCarter, Craig Miles.

Part-time Academy Scholars: Curtis Blakemore, Liam Norwell, Paul Robins

Emerging Players Programme: Lloyd Evans, Ben Ringrose, Joe Brimble, Patrick Grieshaber, Kieran Smith, Jacques Sharam.

Junior Academy: Joe Barrett, William Bull, Harry Hawkins, Daniel Matthews, Josh Megson, Andrew Tolson.