YORKS_NO_MANAGER_27MAR1996

Yorkshire to do without a manager

BY CHARLES RANDALL

YORKSHIRE fly to Zimbabwe today for a three-week pre-season tour, having abandoned the idea of appointing a first-team manager.

The nationally advertised post attracted 15 candidates for what seemed an important post, created to keep Yorkshire`s fortunes at Headingley on the up-turn.

Chris Hassell, the chief executive, said that three key changes - David Byas as captain, Michael Bevan vice-captain and Bob Platt cricket chairman - had caused a change of mind.

"We feel we want to give them the opportunity of trying to sort things out," said Hassell. "If we were to complicate matters by adding a manager on top, it was not quite the right time. We`re keeping our options open and will see how this season goes."

He added: "There were interesting candidates, but nobody stood out like another Bob Woolmer. If there had been, we might have taken a different view."

Bob Cottam, Somerset`s coach, was not among the applicants, though he received messages of support when his name was linked to the job. Opinion around the counties is divided almost in half on the value of a high-profile manager/coach at this level.

A narrow majority still favour power to the captain, with technical back-up from a coach and last season Middlesex, second in the championship, Northamptonshire (third), Essex (fifth) and Gloucestershire, with a big improvement to sixth, added weight to this view.

Warwickshire, the county champions, have signed a 300,000 three-year extension to their Brew XI sponsorship deal with Mitchells and Butler, and have also agreed a two-year kit sponsorship with UK Sportsgear.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)