CRICKET FIJI remains adamant that they will not retain the services of Shane Jurgensen in his capacity as national coach.
CF chief executive Setoki Galuvakadua said this week the board’s position on Jurgenson’s termination in February remains.
Galuvakadua said he along with the board had been notified of Jurgensen signed with New Zealand Cricket as interim bowling coach and deemed this unacceptable as it was a “contract within a contract.”
When contacted, Jurgensen said he was seeking legal counsel and opted not to comment any further.
On Wednesday, February 17, New Zealand Cricket had posted a statement on their official website naming Jurgensen as interim bowling coach.
The article had stated that he (Jurgensen) had “obtained a leave of absence to fulfil the role with the Black Caps”.
When queried Galuvakadua said Jurgensen is only entitled to 20 days leave and that his request had been approved by Gaurang Patel the executive board’s chairman. He added that Patel’s decision had been made without any consultation with the rest of the board members resulting in a vote of no confidence being moved against him.
When contacted Patel said he would make no comments and would wait for the AGM
“We found out that he (Jurgenson) had signed another contract with New Zealand Cricket as a bowling coach for the T20 team. He cannot have a contract within a contract, that’s double dipping.
“Gaurang had given concurrence to Shane after he had requested for leave but to continue serving as coach and be based in Brisbane and then we found out that he (Jurgenson) had another contract. I had been approached but said that was not a decision I could make but and that it was to be tabled to the board. He was supposed to table that to the board, that was not his decision to make alone which is why a vote of no confidence was moved against him,” he said.
He added that Jurgenson had requested to remain in his capacity as head coach but be based overseas for the course of the year and ignited further disapproval as they “cannot have a coach that is not here”.
Although contracted to Cricket Fiji, Jurgenson’s salary understood to be more than $200,000 had been paid by the Fiji Sports Commission under their initiative to recruit expatriate coaches that could boost a sport as well as teach an understudy to continue the efforts after the tenure of a coach’s contract. The issue of Patel’s suspension, Galuvakadua said would be tabled at their next annual general meeting where a decision on his position in the board will be made.
