Steffan Jones admits he is sad at leaving Somerset but delighted to be staying in first-class cricket.

The seamer's 10-year Taunton career came to an end after the recent Champions League. Jones will now take up a two-year contract with Derbyshire.

The Welshman will perform three roles for the midlands county – pace bowler, bowling coach and fitness and conditioning coach.

In two spells with Somerset CCC, Jones helped the county win the 2001 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy at Lord's and the 2007 promotion double. One of his personal highlights was his 1999 century against the New Zealand tourists.

He did not play any competitive cricket in his final year at Taunton, instead ending the domestic season on loan at Derbyshire before a late call up for the trip to India when Mark Turner suffered a stress fracture.

Jones added: "Leaving Somerset is sad, but everything comes to an end.

"It is quite hard to take that it has ended so abruptly, but we have to move on.

"Myself, Andrew Caddick, Richard Johnson and Graham Rose have all left now so it is an end of an era and time for the youngsters to step up and stake a claim."

The loan move to Derbyshire ensured Jones would not be able to wave a fond goodbye to the membership on the field at Taunton.

"That would have been nice but it wasn't to be," he said. "I had the opportunity to go on various loan deals and I didn't want to hang around playing second-team cricket. I need to be playing cricket for my own sanity and for my family.

"I have really enjoyed my time with Somerset."

Jones remains extremely fit and admits he has a passion for physical exercise, so the offer to combine playing and coaching at Derby was one he could not turn down.

"I have got a two-year playing contract and I will also be bowling coach and strength and conditioning coach so there are three roles," he added.