Moles earns extra year at Northern Districts

Andy Moles has been rewarded for helping Northern Districts win the State Championship in his first season as coach, earning a one-year extension that will mean he leads the side until the end of 2008-09. Moles, the former Warwickshire batsman who has also coached Kenya and Scotland, guided Northern Districts to their first title since 1999-2000.

"I'm very pleased with how this year has gone and more importantly with the way the players have interacted with me," Moles told the Waikato Times. "I guess this is the reward for what they see as someone who can mould the team into a consistent outfit."

Despite the team's success - before 2006-07 it had only won the title four times in the competition's history - Moles knows the first-class improvement needs to flow through to the limited-overs game. In the State Shield, Northern Districts finished fourth with only four wins from ten matches.

"Our one-day form was very poor," Moles said. "The way we played the game was a bit naive. We'll be looking to implement a different game plan next year where we're a lot more proactive and positive."

David Cooper, the side's chief executive, said Moles had been outstanding in the first season of his initial two-year contract. "It was a decision that was a pretty easy one for us to sign him for another year," Cooper said. "The signs are good for the team and where they're heading and what he has done with the group. We're looking forward to the seasons ahead."