GLAMORGAN are hoping to complete the signing of Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie as their overseas player for 2008 within the next 48 hours.

County cricket manager Matthew Maynard confirmed that Gillespie was on the brink of penning a contract.

'He hasn't put pen to paper yet but we are hopeful he will sign within the next 48 hours. I don't envisage there will be a problem,'' said Maynard.

"If Jason came he would be a similar signing to Michael Kasprowicz. He has real experience and he would be an asset in helping our younger players progress.

'I know Jason very well. He is a good bloke and he would fit in really well.'' As well as that the South Australia star, who turns 33 in April, will add some solidity to the lower order especially as he has a test match double hundred to his name.

"If you add Jason Gillespie to the likes of Robert Croft, James Harris and David Harrison then hopefully we will have plenty of runs in the last order.'' Maynard said the Gillespie signing would complete a useful close season on the recruitment front which has seen Glamorgan sign Jamie Dalrymple, Matthew Wood and Adam Shantry.

'If Jason signs then I think that would set us up well with the other people we have brought in.'' Gillespie, who is the fourth Australian the county have recruited in recent years along with Kasprowicz, Matthew Elliott and Mark Cosgrove, has a contract with Cricket Australia but that should not affect him being committed for Glamorgan for all of the domestic season.

Yesterday Gillespie, who has played in 71 Test matches and 97 one-day internationals, was quoted as saying: "I've spoken to Glamorgan.

"We've had a preliminary chat, we're waiting to see what happens, and that maybe it's an option.'' Gillespie became a target after it emerged that Glamorgan's bid to sign Pakistan seamer Rao Iftikhar Anjum had fallen through.