Gordon Breaks Silence on WC Spat
Ken Gordon has come to the defense of Chris Dehring, insisting there are "no allegations of misconduct or impropriety" against the managing director and CEO of World Cup 2007.
Gordon, who doubles as president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and chairman of the CWC 2007 board of directors, said that throughout the public spat between Dehring and former chairman Rawle Brancker, Dehring's competence or credibility was never questioned.
"In all these discussions, I did not hear one charge of managerial incompetence, financial impropriety or the lack of accountability levelled against the CEO. To the contrary, his competence was generously praised," Gordon said during a speech to the Barbados Chamber of Commerce Friday.
It was the first public comments by the new WICB boss on the dispute that reached a head when Brancker resigned in disgust and accused Dehring of ignoring the board of directors.
Even as Gordon threw his support behind Dehring, Brancker has written to representatives of CARICOM, suggesting that the regional body conduct a forensic audit into the operations of the World Cup unit.
During his speech, Gordon disclosed that Dehring was prepared to step down from the World Cup top post to effect a solution to differences between he and Brancker.
According to a report on the WICB Web site, when the World Cup board of directors met in St Kitts to discuss the spat, Dehring's main concern was that ongoing preparations for the 2007 cricketing showpiece were not jeopardised.
Gordon said: "What clearly emerged was that, in the light of renewed difficulties, the CEO had concluded that, given the history and current relationship with the Chairman, he felt that to continue would be to place the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 at risk."
"In fact, he stated he was prepared to make way and work behind the scenes to assist the effort, rather than continue in his position, and his resignation was made available to the Board of Directors and to the WICB which had appointed him," Gordon added.
The WICB president said the friction between the two men first arose more than a year ago but was resolved thanks to the intervention of regional cricketing officials.
Elaborating on the circumstances surrounding Brancker's resignation, Gordon explained that both Brancker and Dehring "stated their positions very clearly before being asked to withdraw for the matter to be considered".
"This, it appears, is what the former Chairman found unacceptable. After lengthy discussions the Board arrived at a unanimous view on what the next step should be - but this was never conveyed to Mr. Brancker for, on his return to the room, he announced his resignation," Gordon added.
Gordon dismissed Brancker's suggestion that Dehring or any other CEO could manipulate the World Cup board, insisting that the directors were "all men of the highest integrity with impeccable track records - men who share a common commitment to West Indies cricket and its best interests."
Gordon also made it clear there was no conflict in his own dual role as WICB President and World Cup 2007 board chairman. He said the issue was "double-checked" with the ICC and and found to be incorrect.
"They have since reconfirmed that there is no conflict whatever and that the WICB is entirely free to appoint whomever it wants to run either or both Boards."