Selvey M: Illingworth wins power struggle (09 Mar 95)

Illingworth wins power struggle as England dismiss Fletcher By Mike Selvey

RAYMOND Illingworth, the chairman of selectors for the past 10 months, is now master of all he surveys, after the executive committee of the Test and County Cricket Board extended his powers to include the full management of the England side at the expense of Keith Fletcher. So, almost by osmosis, Illingworth has arrived in the supreme position he craved a decade ago when the job of England manager was first mooted and, in diluted form, handed to Micky Stewart.

Fletcher, the most amiable of men and half way through a five-year contract, will now collect a six-figure pay-off and retire to tend his vegetables. Some say that he has never stopped doing that during his 2 1/2 years in the job.

Since he became manager in September 1992 England, in playing all the Test nations except Zimbabwe and Pakistan, have won five and lost 15 of 26 matches. It is not an enviable record and after last winter`s defeat in the Ashes series it was always possible that a change would be sought.

A TCCB statement yesterday, read by the chief executive Alan Smith, paid tribute to the conscientious way Fletcher had carried out his duties but concluded that there had been little progress. "His lack of success," said Smith, "has led to a loss of confidence in his abilities.

"We believe that we have to look elsewhere for a man to rekindle the pride and passion in playing cricket for England, a motivator who is also an expert cricketer, somebody who will raise team spirit and get the best out of the individual players and the team as a whole. Our choice is Raymond Illingworth."

The decision to dump Fletcher and extend Illingworth`s brief, said Smith, had the total support of the board. Illingworth`s new role had been ratified before he went to bed on Monday and Fletcher, on holiday in the Alps, was notified of the decision by Smith yesterday. "He took it extremely well," said Smith.

He insisted that Fletcher - "a delightful, decent man" - had not been made a scapegoat. "It is quite the opposite. It is an exercise in looking forward, not a recrimination."

At first sight it may appear that Illingworth has had his wings trimmed even in reaching the heights, since one of his chief henchmen this past year, Brian Bolus, has been voted off the selection panel and replaced by the former Gloucestershire and Durham captain David Graveney. But because Fletcher has not been replaced on what was a five-man committee, Illingworth`s casting vote as chairman will decide any possible impasse in selection.

Bolus said he was "very disappointed but not surprised by the decision. I`m just left with the sense that it is a terrible waste of all last year`s hard work. I`ve been caught in the crossfire. What is more important is that the board have chosen to dispense with the services of the England manager and that a majority have voted against Illingworth`s wishes".

Graveney`s appointment leaves a potential problem with the division of his duties since, as the newly appointed general secretary of the Cricketers` Association, the players` union, he might be involved in their plans for baseball-style industrial action if their pay demands are not considered.

Illingworth, who has been appointed for next summer`s series against West Indies and for the winter tour of South Africa and the World Cup in India and Pakistan, assumes full responsibility for the team and is accountable for its performance.

His position, which is regarded as stopgap rather than longterm, will be reviewed at the end of the period although it is doubtful whether Illingworth, who will then be 63, will wish to continue even if successful.

Remuneration, he said to general disbelief, had yet to be discussed. But as he will now tour full-time with the team, the Spanish villa will probably be up for rent.

At least now there will be accountability and an end to the grey areas of authority that existed with Fletcher in situ. Illingworth, one assumes, will stand or fall on results, and appearances in the press box may now coincide with the bad times as well as the good.

"It`s my job to improve results," he said. "I can do that through team spirit, motivation and confidence. They are things I`ve always been good at in the dressing room. I can`t work miracles if the cricketers are not there but I hope to be able to get our players to maximise their ability."

He will, he says, be looking for players with hearts and brains as well as ability, although as he chose Martin McCague and omitted Angus Fraser from last winter`s tour the jury remains out on his judgment.

"There is no intention of minimising or reducing the role of the captain," Smith said. "We have asked Raymond to forge a partnership to help produce the best results and performances."

Michael Atherton, on a golfing trip in Florida, was informed of Illingworth`s elevation yesterday. He thanked Smith for letting him know. Then probably three-putted the next half-dozen greens.

Source :: The Guardian