Holding job

An interim manager and coach are likely to be appointed by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) executive committee next week for the team's tour of New Zealand in December and January.

The three-year contracts of manager Clive Lloyd and coach Malcolm Marshall officially expire today and the WICB has not yet advertised for applicants for the posts as president Pat Rousseau has twice stated it would.

It leaves is no time for the process to be started, and completed, before the team leaves for New Zealand on December 1.

The probable scenario is that Lloyd, the former captain who was appointed in 1996, would be asked to continue for New Zealand, while a provisional replacement would be made for Marshall.

The coach is still receiving treatment following an operation for the removal of a colon tumor during the World Cup in May.

Lloyd said in a telephone interview from Sharjah yesterday that he was ready to continue but restated his position that he would seek greater involvement.

He has repeatedly stated that he is dissatisfied with the limitations placed on him as manager.

He has pressed his case for an official place on the selection panel and more active participation at all levels, not just as manager of the Test team.

West Indies cricket has been my life and I want to do whatever I can to make sure it remains strong, he said.

What my future role will be is up to the board but I've had no word from anyone there on how things stand.

Former captain Sir Viv Richards took over as coach in Marshall's absence in the World Cup but was only needed for one match, against Australia, before the West Indies were knocked out at the first-round stage.

Rousseau indicated that once applications for new manager and coach were in, they would go to the WICB cricket committee, headed by former Test wicket-keeper Jackie Hendriks, for evaluation and recommendation to the full board.

Next week's executive committee meeting, scheduled for Antigua, would also have to decide on the size of the support staff for the New Zealand tour.

After supplementing Lloyd, Marshall and long-serving physical trainer Dennis Waight with performance consultant Dr. Rudi Webster, qualified physiotherapist Jacqui King and fielding coach Julien Fountain for the World Cup, the WICB sent only Lloyd, who doubled as coach, and Waight, who took on physio duties, to the four recent limited-overs tournaments.