Cricket: Fletcher considers Glamorgan

Nov 5 2007 by Phil Blanche, Western Mail

IT seems that you just can’t keep Duncan Fletcher out of the headlines. More than six months might have passed since his eight-year reign as England coach ended, but Fletcher is still big news.

The serialisation of his controversial autobiography, Behind the Shades, this week has caused a real stir, not least his tales of star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff’s drinking escapades.

Fletcher faced up to criticism of his revelations – and there has been plenty from the likes of Geoff Boycott, Clive Lloyd and Flintoff’s father Colin – for the first time on the weekend when he returned to the UK for his first book signing.

Not surprisingly, the venue was Cardiff – the city where Fletcher made his name during his time at Glamorgan and where he so often found sanctuary from the pressures of international cricket.

It is a place close to his heart and, as he openly admitted that he would consider any offer to return to the Welsh county he guided to the 1997 County Championship, he gave an insight into what the future holds for him.

Whether on a consultancy basis or in a more permanent position, depending on any approach, Fletcher feels ready to return to the county fold after eight incident-packed years as coach of England.

In an interview with the Western Mail, the 59-year-old Fletcher, who led England to Ashes glory in 2005, spoke about:

Life after England and a possible return to Glamorgan;

His relationship with Matthew Maynard, his former Glamorgan captain and assistant England coach;

Glamorgan’s woes over the last three seasons;

Having no regrets in his book with regards the revelations about Flintoff’s drink problem.

Most intriguingly, Fletcher indicated he wants to continue coaching and, if the offer and the timing was right, with Glamorgan.

“I would like to get back involved in cricket and if it was Glamorgan there is no way I would turn it down,” he revealed.

“I would have to consider it and I would be keen to see what the terms or what that role would be. I genuinely believe I have a lot more to offer in the game. I’m still enthusiastic and I’ll have the energy back in two or three months’ time.”

If there was a role to play in Glamorgan, even if it was on a consultancy basis, it would have to be with the backing of Maynard. But Fletcher has no problems on that score.

“It is up to Matthew, of course, but I think it would work well,” he said. “He is the head coach and it is important that he has to feel comfortable with it.

“Maybe he might feel threatened and you have to be mindful of that. But, from my point of view, I would enjoy working back in the game.

“I have worked well with Matthew at England level and maybe it could work at county level if required. But, at the end of the day, Matthew might want to work on his own.

“I haven’t spoken to Matthew and I don’t want to impose myself because I need this break.

“I have said that December is the time I will consider my future, and even then I might feel I need more of a break.”

Whatever happens, Fletcher hopes that Glamorgan recover their lost form since they last pickled up silverware in 2004.

Maynard clearly has a tough job on his hands restoring the county’s fortunes, but he believes his former assistant has the capability to turn round a situation which has seen Glamorgan lose more than 30 championship games since 2005.

“It’s important that sides learn from their mistakes,” said Fletcher. “I’m not sure what mistakes have been made at Glamorgan. But they have got to make sure they regroup and do it pretty quickly because they have some important fixtures coming up what with the Australia Test.

“It would be nice to see Glamorgan back at the top around about that time. It does sadden you to a degree that they haven’t been playing as well as they could.

“But I don’t think you can blame the senior players, it’s a collective issue. They have to get together as administrators and players and put it right. I’d hate to pass blame.”

Fletcher has no doubts on Maynard’s coaching credentials, even though some critics have questioned his new role at Sophia Gardens.

“Matthew will do a very good job as coach,” he said. “He did a very good job as captain and I was very impressed with him.

“That’s why I brought him on board as assistant coach for England because I think he has very similar ideas to me.

“Hopefully, he learned a little bit off me, as I learned a little bit off him, and he can go back and put that into practice.

“But there is a little bit of a difference between being a player and a coach. He is pretty new to the job, but I think his enthusiasm and his understanding of the game of cricket in certain areas will help him.

“I hope he can put that into practice and he can bring Glamorgan up the championship ladder as soon as possible.”

Fletcher says he is happy with his autobiography and has no regrets about some of the people he has criticised, including the likes of Boycott, Flintoff and Sir Ian Botham.

“I got the points across I wanted to,” he said. “There were some contentious issues that had been brewing for two or three years and I just thought it was an opportunity to try to clear up some of those issues and get my side of the story across.

“I did it because most of the time you had to bite your tongue. There has been quite a big reaction and there is some surprise in certain areas.”

But no surprise in the reaction caused by Fletcher’s opinions on Flintoff’s drinking habits, including the infamous “Fredalo” incident during the World Cup in the West Indies.

“He made a bad decision and should have been aware of his responsibilities, which I have said in the book,” he said.

“I’m not against a guy, now and again, unwinding because there are pressures on these tours, but it’s how you unwind and when you unwind.

“After the Fredalo affair we discussed it and, from my point of view, he just shouldn’t have done what he did at that time.”