Excellence - Turner's Downfall (29 Jul 1996)

29 July 1996

Excellence - Turner`s downfall

Discarded national cricket coach Glenn Turner stood up for the New Zealand players after long delays in confirming their revised player contracts. Turner who has been accused of a lack of `man-management` said that the issue of the new player contracts what supposed to be clarified shortly after the side returned from the successful West Indies tour in mid May. "The players were promised the contracts would be sorted out by June 1 at the latest and Chris Doig (NZ Cricket`s chief executive stated that on several occasions. Because of this long delay the momentum gained in getting the players` confidence in the administrators would have disappeared. "We (namely the previous team management) had some terrible problems when we went in last year because there was no trust between the players and the administrators.

"The Management team worked very hard to improve that istuation but it has been dismanteled again."

Turner blames his shock sacking on "major philosophical differences" between himself and Doig.

Turner who is the only coach in the history of New Zealand cricket to have won a one-day game in the West Indies is well known for his excellence and tactical ability. "My major philosophical differences with Chris Doig about the way things should happen led to my downfall. He comes from a showbiz world; you know the way they are, very much up for accolades and things, celebrating success, taking bows and massaging egos. It`s quite a different world from the one cricket is involved in."

In his weekly radio programme, former New Zealand Cricket test player and Television New Zealand commentator, John Morrison agreed with Turner`s view and added that the reappointment of Ross Dykes as chairman of selectors confirmed the change in philosophical stance. Dykes was very much into ego-massaging and chairman of selectors in New Zealand`s disasterous Centenary of Cricket year. His record speaks for itself. Morrison said. The players` responses have been guarded and philosophical. Gavin Larsen said the appointment of a new coach must not be allowed to hinder the progress being made. "We cannot look back. We much continue the progress which has been made." Larsen who has tremendous respect for Turner said.

"There is no doubting that we did make progress. We took the West Indies to two-all in the one-day series..that we have another coach is a fact. As players we have to back that decision and the coach."

Source :: The Evening Post, "The Breeze" Radio, and Radio New Zealand News.