What's To Fear Now, Alloy?

(Trinidad Guardian)

Anyone with a minute interest in the future of West Indies cricket, will endorse the move by former West Indies wicketkeeper Deryck Murray to contest the upcoming presidency of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board.

And I am waiting with bated breath to hear Alloy Lequay?s response to Murray?s bold move.

It is no secret that Lequay has commandered the head of Trinidad and Tobago?s cricket as though it is his for keeps. And over the years, the septuagenarian has earned a tremendous amount of kudos for the role he has played in developing the sport here.

But Lequay, as I have said before, has overstayed his time. And even his most faithful supporters, must be questioning his decision to resign as president but stay on as CEO.

I guess that is one of the reasons why one expects that he will do everything in his power to ensure that his deputy, Ellis Lewis, succeeds him.

Not that I have anything against Lewis. I have always found him to be an honest, forthright man, who will do everything that his president demands. He was one of the messengers when Lequay nodded his approval in the infamous Chetram Singh presidency race.

During the last elections when Tony Harford opted to oppose Lequay, there was a fair share of misinformation that was offered to ensure that Harford did not keep the ?chief? out of the chair.

I remember having a discussion with one of Lequay?s soldiers who made it clear that Harford was a businessman with no background in cricket and was only interested in getting the position to make money for himself.

I wondered at that, since I felt that Harford may have made the job into a business, but I asked myself if it wasn?t the same thing that Lequay was doing. But the attack on Harford?s credibility worked, since at the last moment he recognised that he was fighting a losing battle and backed out.

I am wondering now what will Lequay and his band of merry men say about Murray?

He has the cricketing knowledge, the diplomatic skills, the business acumen and is one of the most affable chaps around.

He was even endorsed by Lequay when he was made director of the National Cricket Centre. But then again, he wasn?t in opposition to Lequay.

The winner between Murray and Ellis Lewis may inevitably come down to the man whom Lequay supports, that is to say that man whom he believes will continue to allow him to have a free reign.

As one top sporting administrator once told me ?if you have power and you lose it, you are a damn fool.?

I suspect, in spite of his resignation as president, Lequay still wants to hold on to the reigns of power and run things as CEO. If Lewis wins, he may well be in a position to carry on.

Murray?s independence of thought is unlikely to find favour with Lequay.

I am hoping, however, that there are some people in the Lequay bandwagon with the testicular fortitude to look at both candidates and vote for the man whom their conscience says is the best man for the job.

I would hate to believe that their association with the chief has left them eunuchs.

That, to me, would really be unfortunate!

* Valentino Singh is sports editor of the Trinidad Guardian, where this column first appeared.