Edgbaston regains Woolmer's talents (22 June 1999)

22 June 1999

Edgbaston regains Woolmer's talents

Charles Randall

Bob Woolmer will return to Edgbaston next year as Warwickshire's coach after a five-year absence revitalising the South African team.

Woolmer, 51, who stepped down as South Africa's coach at the end of a heartbreaking World Cup, has agreed a three-year contract starting next January. He will remain based in Cape Town, living in the Birmingham area during the county season.

He might well have succeeded David Lloyd as England coach if he had not insisted he needed a six-month break from the game. That position is now expected to go to Duncan Fletcher, Glamorgan's Zimbabwean coach.

The announcement came as no surprise because Warwickshire were keen to coax Woolmer back after his successful four-year tenure to 1994, and he had promised the county first refusal if he became available. Woolmer's return seems to confirm that Phil Neale's contract as the current coach - which expires at the end of the year - will not be renewed.

Speculation has been growing as to whether Neale, who managed last winter's England A tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa, will see out the season.

Warwickshire won a treble under the joint captaincy of Dermot Reeve and Tim Munton in 1994 - Woolmer's final season - and they carried off two more trophies the following summer, including a second consecutive championship.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph