Thoughts on the coaching structure changes

There are, in life, two types of people in relation to change. Goodness knows, in a thirty-year and counting career I have seen enough tweaks to systems, processes and personnel to write a book on it.

Some people – and understandably – feel threatened by it. When you’re told, as I’ve been on a couple of occasions, that you have to re-apply for your own job, it’s a long way from the fun. The uncertainty is everywhere and for all of those involved it is a nerve-wracking time.

Then there’s others who embrace it and see it as an opportunity to stake a claim, or make a statement; perhaps reinforce and underline the job they do and how well they do it.

There are a few comments flying around tonight, as there always are, but largely the contributors elsewhere miss the point. It is no more the role of Karl Krikken to ‘sort’ the coaching set up than it is a head of department in any organisation. Such a duty falls to the directorate and so it is in the cricket club structure.

Let’s not jump to conclusions here. We may end up with the same personnel at the end of the process that we have now, but is it really ‘chaos’ as one correspondent elsewhere points out elsewhere? No, it is a long way from it. What we have are experienced professionals checking that the personnel and structure that is in place at OUR cricket club is the best that it can be. They are, in short, doing their job and carrying out their committee role as they are expected to do.

It would be easy to sit back, look at the current coaching staff and wear a contented smile. Derbyshire lads all, doing a job that we’re fairly happy with. We battled well last year, and there were a good few positives to come from the summer.

Yet we were relegated, let’s not forget that. Why not take stock of the situation and see who else might be out there, someone who may have a genuine interest and track record in a strategic role at the club? It might be there’s no one better qualified, more able or more suited than the current personnel. Then again, there could be someone who would be simply perfect to take us on to the next level.

This hasn’t been a knee-jerk reaction. The club has done its homework; it has consulted with the current coaching and playing staff and has done its research on best practice elsewhere – not just in cricket, but in other sports.

It strikes me that there are parallels with recent events at Derby County. Like many other fans, I was disappointed to see Nigel Clough depart, a man who had done a good job, stabilised the club and put together a good bunch of players.

Was he getting the very best out of them? On the basis of recent weeks under Steve McClaren, no. At the end of this process, we may have the same or a very similar set up to that we have now, or it could be radically different. We may have some of the current personnel, or we may have none of them.

My heart goes out to all of those involved in the process, as it isn’t fun. Yet for all those who purport to want only the best for Derbyshire cricket, tell me this isn’t the right thing to do, and I’ll need to accuse you of a few porky-pies…

Because it is.