Fitness trainer Nick Jones, in charge of whipping the Island's senior cricketers into shape in time for this summer's ICC Trophy, yesterday dismissed claims that he was simply following the instructions of absent national coach Roland Butcher.

Angered by comments made by the former Test batsman during a Royal Gazette interview this week, Jones said Butcher's supposed programme consisted of no more than "a couple of scraps of paper.'' Jones insisted he didn't want to fuel a row ahead of the ICC tournament, but simply wanted to put the record straight.

"A lot of what Mr. Butcher said was factual, no question about it. The players are not as fit as they could be and they need to raise the level in order to compete at the ICC and make the World Cup,'' said Jones.

"The problem that I have is with what the coach has said as regards him working out a programme for the players to follow. I'm afraid to say the programme Mr. Butcher has sent consists of a couple of scraps of paper.

"The programme that the squad is following is that of Nick Jones, and Nick Jones only. I know what I'm doing.

"I'm not arguing with him because we are a squad. Roland Butcher, Winston Reid (coach), Nick Jones and Clevie Wade, we are a team. And it is important that we all work together to achieve our goal.

"But the article in the paper sounded as if I was following Roland Butcher and he had told me what to do.

"I can tell you categorically that after over 20 years as a fitness professional, during which time I've probably taken care of 100 teams, I don't need to be told what to do when it comes to physical fitness.

"But team harmony is the priority as we work towards the World Cup and we all have to work together.'' Jones noted that during his programme he had introduced the players to a nutritionist, a yoga expert and track coach Cal Simons, all with a view to improving their overall fitness and flexibility.

But while agreeing with Butcher that a lot of work was still required, Jones cautioned against doing too much, too soon.

"There is still room for a lot of improvement. But you've got to remember that most of our players are over 30,'' he added. "You can't expect a player such as Charlie Marshall at 39 years of age to hold his fitness level at 100 percent for six months of the year. It won't happen.

"It's important that this squad peaks at the right time. With eight weeks to go, we need to bring down the hammer. It's very important they peak at the right time, and that everything comes together for two or three weeks in late June early July.'' Fitness, however, shouldn't be the squad's only priority, cautioned Jones.

"We know that mental and physical preparation separates the best from the ordinary. But you still have to have the fundamentals.

"I haven't heard anything about the techniques of the players here, batting, bowling, whether Herbie Bascome should take a 12 pace run-up, or a 15 pace run-up, etcetera.

"If you can't play cricket, the fittest team in the world and the most mentally prepared is still going to fail.

"So obviously we do need Mr. Butcher here as soon as possible.''