Club News

27 February 1998

Glamorgan have appointed John Derrick as first team coach for the forthcoming season. The 35 year old former Glamorgan all-rounder fulfilled the same role in 1996, and he steps up again for 1998 following Duncan Fletcher being unable to return to Glamorgan this coming season. Last summer, John Derrick looked after the county's 2nd XI, and following Derrick's elevation, Alan Jones will look after the second team in 1998.

"The Cricket Committee has given this matter a lot of thought since the Club learned that Duncan was unable to come back this summer,"said Secretary Mike Fatkin. "Duncan introduced a number of different changes last year and given the success of the side and the fact that he is talking positively of returning on a more permanent basis in 1999, they felt it was sensible to be going for a measure of continuity. John will provide us with that. He fulfilled a similar role in 1996, working alongside Matthew Maynard and the side improved a great deal. He is a well-respected, highly qualified Coach who knows the players, knows the set-up and learned much from Duncan Fletcher last year, and we have no doubt that he possesses the knowledge, enthusiasm and organisational ability which will help the Captain."

Cricket Chairman Hugh Davies said "there were several options open to us, but probably the most important factor for us to consider was the need for continuity. We approached the issue with open minds and made some enquiries, but it is clear to the Cricket Committee that John Derrick has all of the right credentials to be able to work well with the First Eleven players this summer."

Matthew Maynard, the club captain, was equally positive about today's news. "The players feel that this is the right appointment for the Club to be making. We would want to build on the ideas which Duncan Fletcher brought in last year and we are confident that we now have the right off-field basis to be able to look forward to another successful season. Having worked closely with Duncan, I can say that the players are 100% behind the Club in its efforts to secure the services from 1999 but in the meantime we feel that John derrick is the right man to work with us this summer. Having worked alongside him in 1996, I know that he will do an excellent job. It is an important year for the Club, but I am sure that the players will be approaching their cricket positively and we have a significant platform on which to build."

In the past few weeks, building work has taken place at Sophia Gardens as the club embarks on its ambitious re-development of the Cardiff ground. As Tony Dilloway, the Club's Director of Marketing, explains, the main construction part of the project will take approximately twelve months. "For 1998, new seating will be provided on the river side of the ground, with the second scoreboard being moved to the Pavilion wall. New, elevated seating will be provided in front of the pavilion, and amongst the other changes, the Premier enclosure will move to the office side of the sight screen at the Cathedral Road End. In 1999 work will also take place on a new scoreboard, new office block, a new Premier Club facility, and - the jewel in the crown - the seven lane Indoor Cricket School will be completed. The Club will therefore have an all-seater capacity of 4,000 which will be of a better quality and comfort than we have previously been able to provide. This building programme will, of course, create some additional pressure on the Sophia Gardens site, but the Club and the main contractor will take every possible measure to ensure the safety and comfort of our spectators during this season's matches."

Three other news items about the forthcoming season - the two fixtures with Surrey will be staged at St.Helen's, Swansea following the success of the fund raising campaign organised by the St.Helen's Balconiers in seeking sponsorship and financial support.

The club have also organised two pre-season friendlies with Wales Minor Counties. The two one day games will be staged at Cardiff over the Easter weekend on Saturday and Sunday, April 11th and 12th. The Glamorgan squad - minus Robert Croft and Waqar Younis - will also be spending five days in Jersey from April 4th as part of their pre-season preparations.