recent debacle concerning former national coach Roland Butcher, says BCBC club representative George Holdipp.

Holdipp added that the Board had simply clung too long to the hope that the Englishman would indeed come to Bermuda, grab the reigns and be the one to guide the country to ultimate success at the ICC Trophy tournament, a hope that turned out to be no more than shattered dreams.

"Let me say here for the record, that quite a few fingers have been pointed at Butcher, but I firmly believe that the responsibility for Bermuda cricket lies with the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control, and the onus is on the BCBC to provide our players with the standard of coaching that they deserve,'' said Holdipp, in his first term as a club rep. "I feel that we hung on to Butcher for far too long.

"The responsibility lies with us, not Mr. Butcher, because in the final analysis the buck stops with the BCBC and I feel that we let Charlie and the rest of the players down badly, particularly with regard to the last six months, where we did not afford them a professional coach.

"For the BCBC to allow Mr. Butcher up to March 31 to assume a position which hed was supposed to fill late last year is negligent at best, criminal at worst.'' He added that the Board must find a replacement immediately as the longer one takes the greater the gap grows between Bermuda and those to which we endeavour to equate.

Holdipp pointed to the accomplishments of Bangladesh which won the ICC Trophy and surged to Test status behind the leadership of former West Indies opener Gordon Greenidge. He also highlighted Jamaica's emergence at the last World Cup of soccer under the tuteledge of a Brazilian technical director.

"I feel our not having someone at this time will definitely affect the team's chances (at ICC), however I remain hopeful that, if these guys buckle down and put their heads down we may be able to qualify for the World Cup,'' continued Holdipp, adding that the Board should not take credit for any success enjoyed.

"I hate to say this, but if our boys do make it to the World Cup, it will be in spite of the BCBC, not because of it.

"What we need is that professional know how, because for years we've persisted with local coaching to no avail in finding success, and if you look at world cricket today it's professionalism that is making the difference.'' See Sports Mailbox -- Page 16