Butts for Joey?

Wed, Jun 16, '04

There is growing chatter in the WICB corridors of power that Clyde Butts will replace Joey Carew on the senior West Indies selection panel.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has formally nominated Butts for the senior selection committee and sources say the behind-the-scenes lobbying to replace Carew has gotten intense in the run-up to this weekend's board meeting in Guyana.

The 47-year-old Butts currently serves as chairman of the junior selection panel and works as a WICB cricket development officer in Guyana. He recently coached the runner-up West Indies U-19 World Cup team in Bangladesh.

The former West Indies off-spinner is an active member of the WICB's cricket committee (playing and development) and is highly regarded in Guyana's coaching circles but there have been complaints about his job performance at the WICB level.

During cricket committee meetings, the WICB's cricket development unit has formally reported it was having unspecified "difficulties" with Butts in his role as Guyana's development officer.

CaribbeanCricket.com has learnt that the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA) has renominated Viv Richards to the selection panel and is "canvassing support" for his retention as chairman. LICA has also nominated Derick Parry.

Barbadian Gordon Greenidge, who is on the current panel with Carew and Richards, has also won nomination and is expected to be retained.

If Butts is promoted to the senior panel, the likelihood is for Ezra Mosely to assume the chairmanship of the junior committee alongside Parry and a newcomer.