Dainty avoids answers of substance

Gladstone Dainty, the president of USACA, has broken the board's silence following the dismissal of Don Lockerbie as chief executive.

While none of the board has been willing to discuss events leading to Lockerbie's removal, Dainty, who almost never speaks to the media, gave an interview to dreamcricket.com. In it, Dainty revealed almost nothing about what happened with Lockerbie, aside from a completely non-committal response. "You know getting into details about personal issues, that's not my style and I don't think that should be discussed of anybody that's professional," he said. "That was a personal issue and there's a confidential aspect of that that I won't get into that. But we're not together anymore. He's not together with USACA."

Pressed to explain if Lockerbie was fired or resigned, Dainty said: "We're just not together anymore."

He did, however, insist there would be a replacement. "We are expecting to have somebody who would lead the organisation. It costs a lot of money and administratively with Don being there we realised that having a full-time person is very important so we're trying to get not only a CEO but hopefully we can get resources to increase our professional staff."

Asked if Lockerbie's departure would impact on the image of the USA both in international cricket and with sponsors, Dainty said: "You're always concerned about your image, especially when people leave. But in any organisation, you have change and I mean to say that change for better or for worse sometimes people are uncomfortable with it. But once you know the facts surrounding these departures, then… you know it's not as… the organisation will continue."

A second part of the interview is flagged and it has to be hoped Dainty is pressed about reports USACA's finances are in a poor state following the Florida Twenty20 event and other recent initiatives which have fallen by the wayside.