'I leave With no Bitterness'

Jamaican administrator Michael Hall on Saturday confirmed his resignation as chief cricket operations officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) but distanced himself from what he described as "speculation and innuendo" about the circumstances of his departure. In response to a CaribbeanCricket.com exclusive that detailed his frustrations with the WICB hierarchy, Hall insisted he was departing "with no bitterness or acrimony."

"The references in the article to my "coveting the job of team manager", of being perceived as a "threat" by our Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brathwaite, and of "being unwelcome at meetings of the Board's Executive Committee" can best be described as imaginary. I am personally unaware, that these, or any of the other "issues" carried in the CaribbeanCricket.com story are real," the 42-year-old Hall said in a statement issued by the WICB's public relations staff.

FULL TEXT OF MICHAEL HALL'S STATEMENT:

I have received numerous telephone calls from the media in the past 24 hours, seeking confirmation of a report carried on the CaribbeanCricket.com web site, which announced my resignation from the West Indies Cricket Board Inc.

I wish to confirm that the essence of the report is true and that I have, in fact, resigned as the Chief Cricket Operations Officer of the WICB, effective July 31, 2003. I wish, however, to distance myself publicly from the speculation and innuendo contained in much of this CaribbeanCricket.com "exclusive."

At the risk of being considered presumptuous about the importance of my pending departure from my current job, I feel that doing so is necessary at this time, when West Indies cricket is at a crucial point in its rebuilding process. Let there be no mistake, I leave the WICB with no bitterness or acrimony, and consider myself privileged, through my appointment two years ago, to have been asked to make a contribution to our great game. Time will determine the worthiness of my efforts.

The references in the article to my "coveting the job of team manager", of being perceived as a "threat" by our Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brathwaite, and of "being unwelcome at meetings of the Board's Executive Committee" can best be described as imaginary. I am personally unaware, that these, or any of the other "issues" carried in the CaribbeanCricket.com story are real.

Although I have already done so in my letter of resignation, I wish to publicly express my appreciation to the staff and my management colleagues at the Secretariat, and to the Board of Directors of the WICB, particularly outgoing President Rev. Wes Hall, with whom I have established an abiding friendship.

The passion with which Caribbean people follow our game is immeasurable, and it is important that this support never wane.

I wish continued success for all those involved in the administration of West Indies cricket, and remain ready to lend my support wherever and whenever possible.

EDITOR'S NOTE: CaribbeanCricket.com is standing by the original report on Michael Hall's resignation. The information contained in that report was gleaned from well-placed sources who have proven reliable in the past.