Chairman backs under-fire boss (From Worcester News)

Chairman backs under-fire boss

6:00am Monday 22nd June 2009

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WORCESTERSHIRE chairman Martyn Price says he is 100 per cent behind director of cricket Steve Rhodes.

The New Road side are without a win in LV County Championship Division One and crashed out of the Friends Provident Trophy following a humiliating defeat to minnows Ireland after being bowled out for just 58.

The County are already odds-on favourites to be relegated from Division One for the second time in three years.

But, despite their apparent woes on the pitch, the Worcestershire chairman is not planning to make any sweeping changes at the top.

“We are very happy with Steve — he is Worcestershire through and through,” Price said.

“I don’t want to be seen to be giving him the chairman’s vote of confidence — we all know what happens in football.

“He works very hard. As far as I’m concerned, he will have my 100 per cent backing. I don’t know anyone better that I would rather have here.

“If someone said Andy Flower was available, I might say we might ought to think about that but he has got a job at England.

“We have a small-ish squad. Steve has said he wouldn’t swap any of his players for anybody else.”

The chairman says there is no extra money for Rhodes to strengthen his squad next season but, following the season, possibly career, ending injury to Simon Jones, there might be some more cash in the coffers.

“We are one of the highest payers in regard to our cricket budget,” Price said. “The lads here are all paid well.

“I doubt there will be anymore money for Steve next year. All the cricket clubs exist through money from the ECB and, from our £1.5million, I think £1.45million goes to the cricketing budget. If we are not getting anymore money in, we can’t afford to give anymore.”

Price admits this campaign has been a disappointing one so far and the County must develop a new mental attitude for playing Division One championship cricket.

“It is almost like West Bromwich Albion, too good for the second division but not good enough for the first,” said Wolves fan Price.

“I spoke to Graeme Hick the other day and we were talking about this scenario.

“He said in the second division teams go for the win and in the first they go for the draw. It is a mental situation and maybe we haven’t quite got it.

“We haven’t been getting big enough totals with the bat, that has been the problem.”

Price added: “The season has been a bit of a disappointment.

“I thought we played ever so well in the Friends Provident Trophy, we beat Hampshire twice and Notts once so it was a huge disappointment as we had done enough to qualify.

“We felt we could have had a home quarter-final and the club desperately needs money — that cost us £30,000.”

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