AUSTRALIAN bowler Stuart Clark will not be joining Kent this season after the club expressed doubts about his fitness.

The 34-year-old right-armer had been announced as the club's overseas player for the first half the 2010 season, but in a press release Kent said Clark is "not where the club wants him to be fitness-wise, so the decision has been reached that it is not worth the risk, on either part, in proceeding with the contract."

Paul Farbrace, Kent team director, said: "I'm very disappointed that Stuart is not coming to Kent because he offers so much, both on and off the field.

"I would like to thank him for his honesty throughout as it made the decision that much easier.

"We are continuing to work on other options, as we have been for the last couple of months.

"We had someone lined up, as a possible alternative, but he has just been named by his country in their ICC World Twenty20 Cup squad.

"We are looking for someone that will offer value for money, and is the right type of individual to bring into our dressing room, but won't sign someone for the sake of it."

Kent get their first class campaign underway on April 15 with a County Championship Division One game at Nottinghamshire.

Their first home game is against Yorkshire, starting on April 21.