WHILE much has been written in recent weeks about the shortcomings of national cricket coach Roland Butcher, there's still no official word on whether he stays or goes.

Public opinion would suggest the latter, as would the remarks of Cricket Board president El James (see story this page). Many would say `good riddance!' The BCBC, we understand, have been taking legal advice and looking carefully at how best they can extricate themselves from a contract which has the former Test batsman in charge of all national coaching duties for the next three years.

Their dilemma is understandable.

They desperately want rid of Butcher, who has shown few signs of commitment in the two or three weeks he's actually spent on the Island since his appointment last summer, but at the same time they can ill afford a hefty financial settlement.

Sadly, the coach himself hasn't done what most might consider the honourable thing, and offered to resign.

If it wasn't clear a month ago, it's certainly clear now -- Butcher, for whatever reason, isn't able to carry out his duties because of priorities elsewhere.

His latest absence, originally thought to be for two weeks, has now been stretched to four -- and still no clear explanation has been offered.

It really is time for Butcher to come clean and explain the reasons behind his continuing absence. If indeed a court case in which he is involved in England has prevented his return, then he has an obligation to say as much. Cricket being a gentlemen's game, he could apologise and bow out quietly, no further questions asked.

Despite his assertions to the contrary, there's no doubt Bermuda's preparation for the ICC Trophy in Canada has suffered, if only through the confusion and controversy stirred by his unavailability.

Fill-in coaches Winston Reid and Clevie Wade appear to have done an admirable job, as has Nick Jones in getting the players physically fit.

But the whole point of employing a coach of Butcher's calibre before the ICC was to ensure our top players received professional guidance. That, they haven't had.

If there's a silver lining to this long sorry saga it's that the players themselves have dug in and don't appear to have allowed their own commitment to have been distracted by Butcher's disappearing act.

In the opening two weeks of the new season, in which so far only five matches have been played, there have been some encouraging performances from those short-listed for the trip to Canada.

Janeiro Tucker and Albert Steede have both hit centuries, and Clay Smith's explosive 92 in last week's Camel Cup Final was reportedly an innings of breathtaking quality -- seven sixes and four fours in a stay at the crease which lasted just 84 balls.

Indeed, the final itself between two talent-loaded teams, was a wonderful advertisement for local cricket. That might bode well for Toronto, where Bermuda need a top three finish to earn their place in the 2003 World Cup.

But the outlook might have been even brighter had only Butcher quit quietly when the extent of his personal problems became apparent and allowed the BCBC and the current squad of coaches and players to chart their own destiny.

-- ADRIAN ROBSON