Controversial cricketer Dion Stovell was strongly urged by Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) not to speak to The Royal Gazette <$>over his highly-publicised feud with senior Board executive Gary Fray.

In an e-mail sent by BCB secretary Marc Wetherhill to Stovell’s lawyer, Charles Richardson, last week and forwarded by the lawyer to The Gazette,<$> Wetherhill wrote: “Charles, The Royal Gazette <$>have called me and provided some pretty damaging remarks that Dion has made to the media. I spoke to Dion and he has said he will talk to us further after work.

“I will see if TheRoyal Gazette <$>will hold the story for 24 hours but I do not think they will. I am trying to persuade Dion that even if he holds this opinion (which I do not believe he is completely unjustified in holding) the best way to play it is close to his chest for now, safe in the knowledge that it is just one man and there are more looking out for him.

“ . . . Dion could go to the World Cup in 2007, this is the opportunity of a lifetime and it would be a shame to throw it away because of a sudden rush of blood. I am not sure what you can do to help but anything at this stage would be appreciated.

“In an ideal world he would pull the plug on the story for 48 hours and myself and Neil (BCB executive Neil Speight) and you could meet with him.”

Speight then wrote: “Best course would be to get Dion to retract his claims. Maybe he (Richardson) can explain to Dion that he gains nothing from this.”

But despite this correspondence, Stovell told The Gazette: “Go ahead and print it. The truth needs to be known.”

In reply to Wetherhill’s request to have Stovell retract his claims, lawyer Richardson — who has called for Fray’s resignation — wrote: “Things over there have to change. Players need to feel that they are a part of an open relationship — not a clever dictatorship.

“If Dion is denied a chance at glory because he has criticised Gary Fray that will only corroborate what he has said about him and underline what most players think about the BCB. They retaliate against those who dare to have any opinion!

“It has to stop, Marc. Distrust of the administrative leadership of the BCB could have a negative effect on our World Cup preparation.”

Stovell stated yesterday: “Marc and Neil told me not to speak to The Royal Gazette. They didn’t want me to make any comments until they talked to me. But my mind was already made up.”

In 2002, Somerset all-rounder Wendell White was banned after talking to the press without the Board’s permission while Western Stars’ Arnold Manders and Jermaine Postlethwaite escaped with warnings after publicly speaking out on cricket matters.