The hype leading up to the Bermuda Cricket Board’s presidential election is now all over and cricket has a new leader.The Board has a sound, efficient president to guide them into the next phase of their long term plans for cricket. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Lloyd Fray as a person in addition to the manner in which he ran the race.Fray was nothing short of a gentleman throughout and his experience in his managerial background paid off. I want to wish him well and trust that the future of Bermuda cricket is in safe hands. Many have asked, where does Clay Smith go from here?Already people have asked the question if I would consider running for the vacant position that Mr. Fray just gave up the answer to that question is no.I have no interest in that position and I won’t try to sugar-coat my response in order to be politically correct. Outside of the president’s position there are only two positions concerning cricket that is of interest to me in the future here in Bermuda, and that is the National Head Coaching position (when available) or the Director’s job, which was vacated by Arnold (Manders) recently.My experience in running in this election has given me a new found appreciation for politicians.The amount of time and energy that goes into campaigning is a full-time job within itself. Meeting after meeting is required to ensure that all bases are covered and all angles checked to reassure the clubs that you are the right guy for the job.My team did a tremendous job in assisting me with those tasks and I must personally thank them for assisting me in my preparations. Together we worked extremely hard to put together a package that we felt the clubs would accept and support. Your effort and time was much appreciated. Many clubs agreed that the ideas presented in my package were excellent ideas, but had issues with my lack of administrative experience.At this point my energies will be focused towards the direction I wish to go to gain valuable experience and qualifications for the game I so love.My aim is to go to England next summer to attain my ECB coaching badges so that I am qualified to teach and coach at the national level.Obviously the position as president was not meant to be. As my mother who brought me up in the church would say ‘God has removed this out of my life because it wasn’t meant for me. He has another path for me to follow so I must be humble and patient to see what he has in store for me.’Those words have helped me to move on from the biggest disappointment in the election.Everyone keeps questioning me about. How did your own club not vote for you? Yes, I have spent over 25 years with St. George’s in the sporting realm. More recently, I just finished a three-year coaching stint with their cricket programme while presently I coach their Under-12 football team, and assist coaching their senior team.Being born and raised in St.George’s, I have lived on the boundary of the club practically all my life, and NO they did not vote for me.Shocking? Admittedly that stunned me more than anything. I can get over losing the race, because it was never a guarantee when you run for any position but when you believe that your club is behind you it definitely hits you hard when you realise that you were only being patronised.However, I hold no grudges against St. George’s as through my sporting career I have had many disappointments but have always managed to rise again.Bitterness and grudges used to be a part of my nature, but life lessons and wisdom has taught me otherwise. Bob Marley said it years ago and it is so true, “Your best friend can be your worst enemy”. You live and you learn!This AGM was highly supported with great anticipation which I consider a positive, even though the race turned out to be one-sided.The clubs have spoken and Mr. Lloyd Fray has taken over the helm from Mr. Reginald Pearman.As Mr. Pearman walks away from Bermuda cricket after years and years of service I want to say this to him personally and publicaly.As a young boy only 18 years old I entered Bermuda cricket for the first time. As the senior team toured England, Mr. Pearman was the manager of the team. What I experienced on that tour in terms of his professionalism, the manner in which he dealt with the players and the respect that the players had for him has always stood out in my memory.It was this memory that stuck with me throughout my national playing days because that tour I learned quite a bit from Mr. Pearman.Until then I didn’t know anything about national pride, everything to me was Cup Match, but I can hear his voice over and over driving us on to do better for our country. Mr.Pearman, it was your professionalism way back then that stuck with me and helped me to excel to higher heights because you instilled in me national pride from a young age and for that I say thank-you. I wish you well in your future endeavours.Well, Bermuda a new era awaits us and I like you will wait with great anticipation and hope that our cricket can improve so that our cricketers can recapture the standards we are all used to seeing on our local soil.I urge and encourage clubs to get behind Mr. Fray and give him your full support because he and the Board will not be able to do this by themselves.In order for us to fix Bermuda cricket we must all play our part. Yes, even I will play my part in some way shape or form. For me this has been a good lesson and a lesson I wanted to share with you all. Remember, as one door closes another one opens, so stay positive.