Hopps D: Illingworth fury at Smith (07 Mar 95)

Illingworth fury at Smith - David Hopps

RAYMOND Illingworth launched a barely concealed attack on the England tour manager Mike Smith last night on the eve of a Test and County Cricket Board spring meeting that will examine the cause of England`s failure in the Ashes series.

Illingworth, shamelessly outspoken even by his own daunting standards, was infuriated by the belief that Smith has been lobbying behind the scenes for David Graveney`s appointment as an England Test selector.

Smith`s alleged involvement goes against Illingworth`s recommendation to the board that the present selectors Fred Titmus and Brian Bolus should be retained. The row is a classic of its type: Northern professional versus Establishment Man.

"I am appalled by what has been going on behind my back in the past month," Illingworth said. "My back has only been turned for five minutes and there is a member of the tour hierarchy lobbying for someone against my recommendations to the board.

"It is a throwback to the bad old days of a nudge and a wink in dark corridors and I am very angry. It is office politics and I shall be spelling out a few home truths."

The result of the vote is expected tomorrow, with Bolus`s position deemed to be under threat from Graveney, the chief executive of the Cricketers` Association and, at 42, almost 20 years his junior.

This clash may be only a warm-up for the main event: the future of England`s beleaguered team manager Keith Fletcher. Smith favours Fletcher`s retention. If the TCCB`s executive committee, or the county rank-and-file, believe otherwise, they may yet decide to pass the executioner`s bullet to Illingworth.

In his determination to implicate Smith, without actually naming him, Illingworth found himself speaking of the "unity" between himself and the captain Michael Atherton. Although they undoubtedly possess a mutual respect, their differences have been apparent, notably in Atherton`s failure to win the younger England side he craves.

"There was always going to be a cry for heads to roll after the poor results in Australia," Illingworth said. "But what is the point of the England captain and chairman of selectors putting on a show of unity if a third party is going to head off in another direction?"

The Cricketers` Association, under Graveney`s stewardship, has circulated a 1,000-word memorandum to the counties which concedes in principle major cut-backs of county staffs in exchange for a substantial increase in salaries.

The document, produced with the record pounds 60 million television deal in mind, talks of a "disservice to the game" if there were no increase to "the currently limited rewards made available to players". But it also accepts that "the establishment of proper wages" would lead to staff cuts that would be "in the interests of the game".

The memorandum also calls for: improved coaching facilities and "properly qualified" professionals to coach young players offseason; the appointment of independent groundsmen, freed from county pressure for "result" pitches; better net facilities; lower over-rates, to promote "quality above quantity"; improved pensions and insurance schemes; and a recognition that counties should help players find employment on retirement.

Source :: The Guardian