'I Want the West Indies Job' - Woolmer

Sun, Mar 9, '03

Former South African coach Bob Woolmer has confirmed a CaribbeanCricket.com exclusive report that he interviewed separately with WICB boss Wes Hall and chief selector Viv Richards for the West Indies coaching vacancy.

Woolmer, who now serves as ICC High Performance Director, told BBC Sports he was very keen on taking the West Indies job. "I am not sure what will come of it. It is up to them to call me now. But it goes without saying, for the meeting to last as long as it did means it was encouraging on both sides," the former England all-rounder said.

Contrary to earlier reports, Woolmer claimed he did apply for the job long before the application deadline passed. "I had been told by good friend and Dr Rudi Webster [former Warwickshire bowler and director of the West Indies academy] the job would soon be vacant and he asked whether I wanted to submit my CV, which I did," Woolmer said.

During the interviews with Hall and Richards, Woolmer said he made it clear he would need certain freedoms to implement his own coaching techniques. "The one thing I did make clear was if I was going to coach a national side again I would expect to be able to implement the various techniques that I have developed over the years."

"But I am interested in the job. Otherwise I would not have expressed my interest," he declared.

Woolmer is also mulling an offer from the ICC for a two-year extension to the job as high performance director.