Red Force coaching candidates willing to take pay cuts

POTENTIAL TT Red Force coaching candidates are willing to take pay cuts or even work for free, saying that during these uncertain times, sacrifices must be made for the good of local cricket.

In a media release on Monday, the TT Cricket Board (TTCB) said it has "put on hold for the time being the interview process to select a coach of the national men's team."

The executive of the TTCB unanimously agreed that because of recent developments, especially due to the covid19 pandemic, it would not be feasible to make an appointment now.

Coaches David Williams and Kelvin Williams, not related, are both employees of the TTCB and the board is expected to utilise their expertise if needed for the rest of 2020. There are no local or CWI tournaments for the remainder of the year due to the pandemic, but the Williams pair will be available to guide the players.

Financial constraints led to Cricket West Indies (CWI) decreasing their allocations by 50 per cent to all the territorial boards including the TTCB.

CWI has also agreed to cancel the 2020 Super50 tournament and reduce the 2021 West Indies Four-Day Championships to five rounds instead of ten.

Mervyn Dillon's contract as Red Force coach ended on April 30, which was also the deadline for people to apply for the position.

A total of 18 people applied for the position with 13 applications from TT and one each from Barbados, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, South Africa and Pakistan.

Newsday contacted several of the TT candidates and they understood the decision by TTCB to delay the hiring process. They also said they are willing to accept a smaller package if offered the job because of the local board's financial struggles.

David Furlonge, who was the Red Force manager/assistant coach under Dillon, said he understood the decision by the TTCB. "It is understandable...they have not really received the funding and you have no cricket for the (rest of the) year."

Asked whether the next Red Force coach should accept less money or even work for free in light of the situation, Furlonge said, "It is up to the individual."

The long-time Queen's Park coach said if hired for the Red Force job he would accept less. "Anything to help cricket. If I am able to do it financially I would, cricket has to come first for me."

Furlonge has 25 years of coaching experience and has been a member of the Red Force set up for the past two years.

Experienced Red Force cricketer Rayad Emrit, another applicant for the position, said the TTCB had no choice but to postpone the hiring process. "It's nothing we can do at the moment," Emrit said. "We all see that CWI say they are strapped for money and they cut everything by half, so it is going to be a burden on the TTCB."

On accepting less money or working for free, Emrit said working "for a stipend" is an option, but due to limited finances for everyone, he pointed out, "I don't think anybody will want to do it for free at this time."

Roland Sampath served as manager of the Red Force team for a number of years. Sampath said he is aware of the money woes facing CWI and this will affect the TTCB operations.

"There is a serious financial problem with West Indies Cricket Board (CWI) and by extension the TTCB...compounded now by covid19 so the situation is difficult, it is wait and see, so I can understand what is going on so I have no problem with that," said Sampath. "What is to be will be."

Sampath, who described the situation as a "rippling effect" said a Red Force job is not only about the financial gain.

"It is not only about money, it is about representing your country and making a contribution to the development of the sport."

Gibran Mohammed, former national wicketkeeper, said, "I think they did not really have a choice (to delay the hiring) if you look at what happening with West Indies. They have some financial difficulties so obviously that would trickle down to the territorial boards and by extension to the whole process of getting the (TT) coach."

On accepting less money or coaching for free Mohammed said, "I played cricket for so long so passing on information is something that we have to do to grow as a cricketing nation and West Indies by extension. As a coach, if I had to just do that for free (I will do it)."