Printer-friendly pageTuesday, June 10, 2008
A situation has arisen that will run and run over the next few weeks to rival the Christiano
Ronaldo Man U / Real Madrid ”should he stay or should he go saga”. The London Saints Skipper, DT, has been approached unofficially by Barnet Cricket Club to run their Under 10’s team this season and lead them onto Under 11’s, 13’s etc, etc. So far this campaign has been run in the press with no official approach being made to the London Saints hierarchy. DT has said he is very happy running the London Saints team but can’t deny that it has been his life long ambition to manage the mighty Barnet Under 10’s (and that it would make his mum’s dream come true). He released a press statement last night, after a few beers and taking advice from club stalwaught Lord Lucan saying that he would not make any further comment until the end of the Lord Nelson Cup tournament so that both he and the club would not be distracted and could concentrate on winning the cup.
There are many important factors in the equation away from the financial considerations. Firstly year on year with the Under 10’s, going to Under 11’s, 13’s 15’s etc the Manager would see progress with the players improving (and subsequent satisfaction) whereas managing the current average Over 45’s London Saints team would lead to managing the Over 46’s then Over 47’s and eventually the Over 50’s with not the same progress being shown as with the youngsters - in fact some cynics might say it would be a complete reversal of fortunes
Another factor is that the Under 10’s always turn up on time for their start (not 30 minutes late or more in some cases) and matches are always started punctually and another being that despite 55 extras being conceded by the Under 10’s yesterday morning, none of them bowled a 13 ball over!
So a big decision will have to be made in the next few weeks. A compromise may be to get both clubs to agree to DT doing both jobs but that may be only a halfway house solution with both teams suffering not receiving the full 100% concentration of that fine cricketing brain (NB The Skippers ‘Art of Captaincy‘ is out in the paperback version this Fridays with book signings taking place in the Orange Kipper, Hornsey) as matches clash and he has to race from match to another. Well that was the Skippers excuse for his rash decision to let Little John bowl the final over yesterday and his loose shot to get out off the first ball of a new bowler having seen off the quickie)!
It will be a difficult choice with sentiment, having looked after this bunch of old farts, for years up against seeing a new team coming together and progressing and take on the world. To be continued……….
Please email Pete Berkeley if you wish to offer an opinion.
