Woolmer Wants 'Technical' Role but...

Veteran coach Bob Woolmer, considered by many a frontrunner for the West Indies coaching vacancy, is angling for a technical advisor's role instead of a fulltime job but the WICB insists the only open position is for that of head coach.

Woolmer told the Associated Press doing a fulltime job as head coach was "too much for me at my age", suggesting instead he would be willing to negotiate for a position as a technical advisor.

However, WICB boss Wes Hall maintains the interview process is to pick a head coach and nothing else, a statement that hints strongly that Woolmer may be out of the picture. When told that Woolmer's preference is for an advisory role, Rev. Hall bluntly told CBC Radio: "We advertised for a coach."

Hall said he had nothing to do with the interview of Bob Woolmer saying clearly those overtures were handled by "other officials".

Woolmer's own interest in the position is very conflicting. Last week, he told BBC Sports he was keen on coaching a national side again. "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.

A few days later, the 54-year-old Woolmer said he proposed playing an advisory role instead of being a fulltime coach. "Since my retirement from the South African team I've done a lot of research on coaching and I'm quite keen to try one or two things. To do it full time is too much for me at my age," he said.

"The five years with South Africa was probably the most stressful of my life, and I won't forget that," he said, adding that he considered the West Indies job a challenge and the he was "open to negotiation on how it could work".

"I haven't said no [but] Iwas quite up front with them in terms of my physical capabilities," he said, describing the West Indies as "a team of the future" based on their performances against India last year and the fresh talent coming through at the World Cup.

"They seem like a country on the move, wanting to get back to the top. A strong West Indies side is very important to cricket," Woolmer added.

It is hardly likely Woolmer would be hired in an advisory capacity. An interview committee representing the WICB has concluded discussions with the candidates -- Woolmer, Aussie academy coach Bennett King and former West Indies players Eldine Baptiste and Gus Logie -- and they are expected to make a recommendation to the WICB board of directors soon.

The board plans to name a new coach by April 1.