'Dyson sacked for not signing contract'

John Dyson was sacked as West Indies coach because he hadn't signed a contract during his 18-month stint, a senior WICB official has said.

Conde Riley, a director of the board from Barbados, said that they had been left with no option but to sack Dyson, who left his position last month following Test and one-day series defeats against Bangladesh.

"People would say we were weak, or that he should not have started to work, but there were two CEOs who were employed with Dyson, who were trying to get [him to sign]," Riley told a press conference in Barbados on Tuesday. "We discussed it last November in Antigua. Dyson was at that meeting, and then the team was off to New Zealand, came back, played against England and Bangladesh, and the directors took a decision.

"It is a very unsafe position to be in when people don't sign contracts and you are paying them in accordance with the provisions of the contract. When an employee has not signed a contract for 18 months, he cannot be serious and therefore you don't have to have a reason [for termination] - it's a straightforward case."

Dyson has yet to speak about his departure, while assistant coach David Williams has been put in charge of the team for the Champions Trophy in South Africa. A shadow West Indies side will be taking part in the event after the selectors decided to show loyalty to the players who came in at short notice against Bangladesh.

The side will be captained by Floyd Reifer, who told Cricinfo that he wants to help West Indies to a brighter future. "I see my role as trying to help rebuild West Indies cricket," he said. "We have a group of young players here who are trying to take West Indies cricket forward. They have shown commitment and dedication."