Mickey Arthur - the reason why

It didn't take too long to find out that my opinion of a new contract for Mickey Arthur was at odds with many other supporters...

Plenty of comments on here and around social media confirmed that people were surprised and angry. I fully understand that and, as someone who felt at the end of last season that this year would be the last for Mickey Arthur, I would like to explain why my position has shifted. 

It is patently clear that results have not gone as we had hoped. Mickey's approach is by nature to be bullish and upbeat and he has not always helped himself with some of his comments. 

Calling the players 'entertainment machines' and suggesting we were going to play 'sexy cricket' was a clear case of setting yourself up for a fall. So too the building up of some players. Alex Thomson, for example, was referred to as having England potential when he joined, but has become an increasingly peripheral figure. 

He has also made mistakes. Some contracts were extended, but shouldn't have been, some decisions beggared belief (bowling at Hove last year, batting at Chesterfield) and man management was, anecdotally, not especially good. Bawling out a dressing room at a volume that was audible to supporters outside seemed to be playing to the gallery.

From years as a senior manager in different environments, I know pretty well that you cannot adopt a one-size fits all approach to this, as it doesn't work. It might do at elite level, but below that you need to appreciate that people respond to and need different approaches. They make mistakes, but not usually on purpose.

I would like to think that the Derbyshire Board has seen evidence that lessons have been learned. If you are receptive to doing so, you always learn and I clearly recall John Wright saying that his approach to being in charge at Kent was considerably different to when he did the same for New Zealand and India. That makes complete sense. Elite principles are one thing, but so too an appreciation that not everyone is of the requisite standard.

His experience in the world game is second to none, but relatively speaking, at this level it was limited and some time ago. After three seasons, he will appreciate that his initial comments were not helpful and his suggestion that by year three he would have 'his' side was not wise. It didn't take into account that the county doesn't have the budget to make it 'his' side in that time scale, for one thing. It is no longer international cricket, where you choose who is available. You need to have the money and they need to want to come.

A gamble on signing Samit Patel and Ross Whiteley didn't come off last year, neither of them producing their best form. Again, to have 'his' side he needed the right players and one look at the out of contract list last year showed few players who would have improved us. 

Yet we supporters are not privy to discussions at board level. My thoughts over the winter have been that Mickey will have irons in the fire for 2026, players that he wants to bring to Derbyshire and who would improve the overall standard. He has the contacts, he has the name and people will want to come and play for international coach Mickey Arthur. Not just domestic players, but those in other countries who will be aware of his record in the global game. I wouldn't be surprised if contact had not already been made with agents, expressing interest.

He got George Scrimshaw into the England set up, so too Pat Brown, likewise Harry Moore. That hasn't happened for a long time and it was important for Derbyshire to be seen to be relevant once more. When the right players become available and see that Derbyshire can be a route to international cricket, that is progress. You don't hear people questioning the relevance of the county now, commonplace a few years ago.

Yes, he needs to get the best out of what he has in 2025 and my gut feeling is that we will see improvement. Yet we should not forget that our existing  squad is largely made up of those who lacked opportunity elsewhere and in some cases there was a reason for that. We don't have the budget  and we can't throw £150K at player A and ask him to come here. Because if you do, the standout players on your staff want parity, when they realise what is happening and that they are doing more than the expensive new import...

Quietly, below the surface and unnoticed to many, Arthur established a coaching structure, with the very able assistance of Daryn Smit, that will see the county hopefully produce its own talent in future years.

Mitch Wagstaff, Nick Potts, Harry Moore and Yusaf bin Naeem are the first wave of what will hopefully be many players from our own system. I understand that as many as six players may be involved in this year's under-15 Bunbury Festival, which would be an astonishing achievement. 

Bringing in the right overseas players, recruiting quality from elsewhere and fielding the best of our own is the way I would like to see Derbyshire develop. Young and hungry players, keen for the opportunity to develop their games from overseas, not those who are looking for final paydays and to go through the motions.

In saying that the right decision was made, I am not suggesting I am any happier with the last couple of seasons than anyone else. But I can see where progress is being made and I cannot see how changing at this point in the development process would be productive. Going from rock bottom to the top was always unlikely in three years, as it is in any sport. Even Eddie Barlow found it much harder as a coach than a player, when he couldn't directly influence events on the pitch.

The decision has been made and as supporters we must now get behind the team, the coaches and the club. It should not and will not prevent constructive comment and criticism when matches are lost - as they will be. Nor should it prevent constant scrutiny, which will be the case at board level. 

But I am willing to extend my acceptance of the length of the development plan to five years. As well as players gaining national recognition for the first time in a long while, others are playing abroad with success and coaching staff are gaining experience and doing very well in the English winter (take a bow, Ben Smith)

Such a widening of the net takes the county name into different circles and allows us to see people who could do a job in the future.

If you don't agree that's fine. It is all about opinions and as long as they are expressed in a thoughtful and considered manner I will always be happy to air yours on here. Unlike those of the eejit who periodically sent comments urging me to die, until I blocked his IP address, sending them straight to the trash where they belonged..

But in closing and as I do every year, please remember that when you post it will be read by family, friends, players, board members and coaching staff. The blog is a good sounding board for many people and an opportunity to make your views known. 

I will always be happy to post comments that disagree with mine, just as long as they are considered and are not personal. I love the involvement of everyone and it remains a pleasure to engage with you all. 

A new season will soon be upon us. 

Let the show commence..