From a long-time supporter

I received this email this afternoon, just after I had published my own thoughts of the day. 

The supporter who sent the email to me has given his permission for me to publish this and I feel his comments are well thought out and excellent, on a similar wavelength to me, for sure

I hope you feel so too. 

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I am beginning to think Mickey Arthur’s days are numbered, although his time with Derbyshire may stretch to the end of next season. Unless the team have a dramatic upturn in form (the best possible outcome) he will come under a lot of pressure to resign at the end of the current season at the top end of the chain. Based on his time with Pakistan he may not do so and to pay him off would almost certainly be enormously expensive.

When Arthur’s appointment was first muted, I thought it was a mistake. It was obvious the appointment would lead to some good publicity and plaudits to the Management Board for their initiative in bringing a top International Coach to the club. For a time, a feel-good factor existed and the team showed some improvement but this has now disappeared.

My initial concerns about the appointment were twofold. Firstly, the deal was far too expensive for a small club – we could probably have funded a suitable Head Coach and two decent players for the money paid to Arthur. Secondly, Mickey knew little about the English game below the international level which made it very difficult for him to come to a club like Derbyshire. Where knowledge of players at a lower level is vital.

I am sure Mickey is hurting right now at the club’s lack of success, which he did not expect when he was appointed. This could lead to his resignation at the end of the season or he may attempt to put things right in the final year of his contract.

The head coaches that have achieved the most success at Derbyshire since I have been a supporter, mid-70s, have been aware of players at other clubs whose opportunities at first-team level have been limited. Players who it might be possible to sign and turn into regular county cricketers. They have also had good shop-floor contacts who want young players to prosper who they know might not get anywhere with the so-called ‘Big Clubs’ and are prepared to recommend them to Derbyshire (Brooke Guest) and players outside the county system (Ben Aitchison.)

I know that things were different in the 1980/1990s but Phil Russell with very little money built a team that was not only competitive but won several trophies as well. A lot is said about Dean Jones and the season we finished second in the County Championship, but the team was largely built by Russell.

This century the efforts of John Morris at team building led to Derbyshire becoming Division Two Champions under the stewardship of Karl Krikken. Morris did not have his contract renewed because the players did not like his management style. He brought Wayne Madsen, Tony Palladino, Mark Footitt, Tim Groenwald, Wes Durston and Chesney Hughes as well as several others to the club. Long-term contracts were offered to several former academy players.

The ideal Head Coach for Derbyshire would be in the mould of Russell/Morris as far as recruitment is concerned. Someone with undiminished enthusiasm whatever the situation who would get the best out of the players and set achievable goals.

With more money now being spent on the Academy and Pathway (£258,000: source 2023 Annual Report - £182,000 was paid to Derbyshire for this purpose in 2023 by the ECB) the theory is that more players should be produced who go on to become first-team regulars. This is a slow process and currently should be looked at only as a support to a recruitment drive and not the answer. Players must earn selection whether home-grown or recruited from elsewhere.

Derbyshire is at a particular disadvantage compared with other similar counties owing to the scarcity of junior talent mainly due to the lack of school cricket in the county. This often leaves coaches with the thankless task of trying to coach young players who have virtually no chance of making the grade at the county level.