Who next?

It is never nice to see someone lose their job, yet sport being what it is, there was an inevitability about Dave Houghton leaving Derbyshire.

In response to many questions, yes I think there has been a major shift that caused it to happen. Why else would he be allowed to plan for next season, then the departure is announced? His recent signings may or may not be part of the thoughts of a new man, but they have the next two years anyway. It makes no real sense. 

For me, one thing that the board MUST do, ahead of the new appointment, is to co-opt a couple of new, even temporary members to the board to oversee the appointment. Former players both, but with more recent, relevant experience than that of Colin Tunnicliffe. 

With respect to Colin, a man I have much time for, his cricket experience was forty summers ago now. The game has changed, as have the demands on players and coaches alike. That has happened even in the last five years, so for me the interview panel should have at least three former players advising on questions for - and sitting in on - the interviews.

People like Wes Durston, Paul Borrington, Kevin Dean, Steffan Jones and others would be good options. They know modern cricket, played it for the county and would likely be able and willing to help. They don't HAVE to have played for us, but we simply MUST have the right expertise involved. 

That input is crucial to get the right man. Otherwise the danger is that we do the Derbyshire thing of making an easy appointment of old alumni. That wouldn't be right. 

There has already been and was always going to be an outcry for Chris Adams. I am not totally against the idea, but he has been out of the county game for a few years now. He knows Derbyshire, but so did John Morris and Kim Barnett. I thought John a good spotter of talent, but it ended well for neither of two good men. Chris may be quite happy where he is anyway, coaching the Netherlands side. 

Dominic Cork? He will have his supporters, but I would think his media work around the world more lucrative than taking on Derbyshire full-time. I have seen Steve Kirby mentioned, but there is a big difference between being bowling coach and Head of Cricket. Graeme Welch found that, so I would discount Ajmal Shahzad for the same reason. The job may also be too soon for Daryn Smit, doing a good job with the Academy. 

So I am going to present you with my top three, in reverse order. Obviously assuming all of them were interested in the role.

3) Karl Krikken. I still think he was wrongly dismissed after winning division two and making a decent fist of promotion with a young squad. 

I am not sure how technical he is as a coach, but people relate to him, he works especially well with young players and he has a lot of contacts. Currently Performance Manager at Lancashire, I wouldn't be averse to his return, but think it unlikely. 

2) Mark Alleyne. One of the very best cricket brains. I hope he applies because he would be a very strong option. 

An idea of his thoughts and ideology can be found here and he strikes me as a man from outside whose game awareness and thinking would be perfect for us. 

There are few better options out there than Mark, certainly within the UK, and he would be a very strong contender. 

1) Grant Bradburn. We have an opportunity now to build on what Dave Houghton has started. All season I have seen references to someone coming and 'doing an Eddie Barlow' and I think the Kiwi would be perfect. 

His track record is astonishing. He took Northern Districts to several trophies in one of his first roles, then became manager of New Zealand A. Then a short stint in Fiji, furthering his cricket education prefaced a switch to Scotland, where he galvanised their game, as can be seen in this excellent article. He also had a stint with us in the T20, where he impressed people with his knowledge and attitude. 

He is a strategist AND motivator. An excellent communicator, as anyone who follows his excellent Twitter feed will testify. 

Regardless of what he had to spend, I would back Bradburn to get 10-20% more out of the players. He stresses the need for good communication and talking with people. We need that and then some. 

He perhaps doesn't know the county game as well, but year one would be largely going with what he has and getting the best from them. I suspect his contacts for overseas players would be worthwhile, a major plus. 

Currently Head of Performance for the Pakistan Cricket Board, he has a big role. However, I understand from articles that he is there alone and his family are in New Zealand. A big family man, perhaps the chance of coming back to the UK, which his family loved, would hold appeal for him, a chance for them all to be together. 

Just as we did when we reached out to Eddie Barlow, there is a chance now to do the same for a man who could provide the strategy, dynamism, intelligence and motivational skills that we need. 

Reach out to him, give him the job for three years. Perhaps let Wayne Madsen work alongside him as player and batting coach, but let him tell you his structure and his plans. 

If by some chance he saw the advert in due course and applied, I would snatch his hand off.

Think outside the box guys. Take this opportunity.