Jack's role defended

THE Guernsey Cricket Board has vigorously defended the role of top coach and GCB technical director Jack Birkenshaw. GCB chairman Dave Piesing has responded to criticism levelled at the board by Guernsey Press Sports Editor Rob Batiste who questioned if the board was getting value for money from the former England player.

He felt that it was time to look closely at the role of the technical director and that Birkenshaw should be given more responsibility in the running of the island's senior squad.

'To have access to a coach of Jack's standing, right at the top level of the English game, was and remains a major coup for Guernsey cricket. Comparable coaches would cost us considerably more than it costs us to engage Jack on a part-time basis which would suggest that his services represent very good overall value for money to the GCB,' says Piesing.

He says that Birkenshaw's role in the senior side is only a part of the overall duties as technical director.

'He spends between 12 and 14 weeks of the year working for the GCB and a very significant amount of that time is spent in the Easter and summer school holidays working with our talented youngsters,' says Piesing.

In his article Batiste expressed his admiration for Birkenshaw and believed that his track record is up there with the best, but he feels that more time should be spent with the senior squad too if the chairman's dream of qualification for the World Cup in 2011 and the Commonwealth Games was to be realised.

But Piesing argues that it is not financially viable to have a full-time coach in full control of team affairs based in Guernsey.

'The GCB would fully endorse the suggestion that Jack works more closely with players on a one-to-one basis.

'It is definitely needed and we are fully aware of it but it is an extremely difficult issue to address,' he says.

'It means that the island manager, Dave Hearse, who does not get paid and puts in a massive amount of voluntary time, needs to carry out that role, supported by myself. Jack is simply not in a position to see who is performing at club level week in, week out.

'He does not see who is putting in the hard yards over the winter in improving their fitness and he does not see which players might be showing a poor attitude,' says Piesing.

'We have to be realistic and work within our financial restraints, balancing our immediate needs with our ongoing development needs across all age groups so that our cricketing future at an international level is sustainable for many years ahead,' added Piesing.