Cape Town: South African Cricketers’ Association CEO Tony Irish believes heading to the CCMA is ‘the only way’ to sort out the on-going issue with Cape Cobras coach Paul Adams.
After months of mediation, the WCC board, the governing body of cricket in Western Province, Boland and SWD, believed the matter to be closed after they had upheld Adamsâ’ contract last week even though the majority of the Cobras squad had formal grievances against the former Proteas spin bowler.
But according to Irish, even with the new season just under a fortnight away and the Cobras already busy with pre-season matches, there remains unhappiness in the camp.
“The players have exhausted the internal cricket process for dealing with their grievances and now have no option but to refer this to the CCMA”, said Irish in a statement.
“It is the only way that they can deal with it further and keep shining a light on the issue with the franchise.
“They are not able to seek a binding order from the CCMA but are able to have the grievance conciliated in that forum.”
Irish also detailed the ‘formal grievance’ the players have with Adams, citing issues such as ‘fundamental loss of confidence by the players in the coach’s ability to lead the coaching of the team arising from his inability to create an effective team culture, poor communication and man management skills, lack of tactical and technical knowledge and disorganisation in running proper practice and training sessions’.
Although WCC executive chairperson Angelo Carolissen supported the retention of Adams due to the success the coach had achieved since being at the helm of the Cobras for the past three seasons, Irish believes it was only through the ‘role played by the senior players’.
‘Some people have been quick to point out that the team won trophies under the coach in the period after he took over,’ said Irish.
“According to the players, however, the coach’s shortcomings back then were compensated for by the role played by senior players at the time and the situation has got progressively worse.
“It in fact deteriorated to such a point last season that in December 2015 the franchise itself surveyed the players on the issue and the outcome of several of these highlighted the seriousness of the breakdown.”
The Star