Lancashire out of luck in effort to sign Lillee (18 Sep 1996)

18 September 1996

Lancashire out of luck in effort to sign Lillee

By Barrie Fairall

LANCASHIRE will have to look in another direction before obtaining the disciplined aggression they are seeking after Dennis Lillee yesterday said he was unable to take up an offer to become the club`s head coach.

The legendary fast bowler, now 47, was approached by Lancashire following one of the most disappointing championship seasons in their recent history. Lillee, though, found he could not overcome contractual commitments with the Australian Cricket Board which would have ruled him out of the beginning and the end of an English season.

While Mike Watkinson has captained Lancashire to a Benson & Hedges Cup and NatWest Trophy double, the side have won only two championship matches this summer, which has led to unrest among the membership.

The committee acted by telling John Stanworth, who took over in a caretaker capacity following David Lloyd`s appointment as England coach at the beginning of the summer, that he would not be given the position on a permanent basis.

Lillee, who helps coach Australia`s emerging players at the Academy in Adelaide, said: "I was extremely interested in the Lancashire approach but unfortunately my contract with the ACB has not permitted me to continue with discussions."

This comes as a major blow to Lancashire, who hoped to ease unrest at Old Trafford by recruiting a big-name coach ahead of a members` forum on Oct 1.

Allan Border, the former captain of Australia, and South Africa`s Jimmy Cook have also been linked with the vacancy at the club.

Ian Salisbury, the spinner discarded by England who last month was linked with a possible move to Surrey, has been offered a five-year contract and the promise of a benefit by Sussex in an effort to keep him at Hove.

Graeme Hick, another England discard, has rejected three lucrative offers to play first-class cricket abroad this winter after being omitted from the tour of Zimbabwe and New Zealand. Northern Districts and Auckland in New Zealand and Western Province in South Africa are believed to want the Worcestershire player.

Steve Barwick, the veteran bowler, is one of four players released by Glamorgan, who have also decided not to offer new contracts to slow left-armer Neil Kendrick or batsmen Alistair Dalton and James Williams.