Wheatley attacks 'elitism'

DOMINIC WHEATLEY has been suspended as the Guernsey Cricket Association's Evening League representative. GCA president Dave Nussbaumer announced the decision in an e-mail to all clubs following a row over the re-arrangement of the Barclays Premier One fixture between DHS St Pierre and Aon St Saviour's.

Due to be played on Thursday 8 July, the match was postponed due to wet weather and was subsequently rescheduled for Friday 6 August, which is the evening before the inter-insular. From there the problem escalated.

Island manager Dave Hearse, who is also the St Pierre captain, requested that date be kept free for a final Guernsey team get-together - a request, Nussbaumer revealed in his e-mail that was first made back in January.

Wheatley initially refused to move the fixture once more on the grounds that social events are not sufficient reason to re-arrange matches, but Nussbaumer consequently instructed him to adhere to the request.

In response, the EL officer complied but also issued a statement to every club with the heading: 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others', a quote from George Orwell's novel Animal Farm.

In the statement he apologised to those clubs to whom he refused re-arrangement requests in the past because of 'the non-availability of players for non-club related social reasons'.

'I work on the basis that if I am unable to accommodate all requests of a particular type then it would be unfair to allow some and not others,' Wheatley wrote.

He went on to describe the president's decision as 'unnecessary, ridiculous and elitist'.

Yesterday, Wheatley reiterated his views on the matter.

'I completely support the continuing efforts of the GCA committee to further the interests of Guernsey cricket through its excellent youth policies and plans for the improvement of facilities.

'I do not believe these interests are best served by the extension of special privileges to elite players and I see no reason why their teams should not play in their absence as other clubs have to in equivalent circumstances.

'That is the extent of my difference of opinion with the committee,' he said.

'Of course I do not believe that Island players should play cricket the night before an inter-insular.

'However, that should not mean that the game gets rescheduled or that date avoided in the scheduling, just that some other players get an opportunity to experience first team cricket.

'I would like to thank all those who have co-operated and assisted over the past three years in the running of the EL and offer my best wishes to my successor in the role.'