National team cricketer Clay Smith's planned move to St.David's appears to have fallen through following the appointment of his former St. George's team-mate Graham Fox to the post of player-coach.

The pair were the two main candidates for the player-coach position, and on Saturday St. David's decided to select Fox.

"Two other people were interested but we only gave those two (Smith and Fox) consideration,'' said president Delby Borden.

"It wasn't an easy decision and went right down to the wire. Management felt it was because Graham did play last year (1996) and had a lot of input with the players.'' Both cricketers are eligible to play in the Eastern Counties for St. David's next season, Fox having qualified by playing two seasons for the club in the league and Smith through the two-year residency rule.

But it seems unlikely the pair will be playing in the same St.David's team next season as a rift has existed between the two since Fox was removed from the St. George's captaincy two years ago and replaced by Smith. Fox then joined St.David's for the 1996 season.

"My main reason for wanting to go over there was to be player-coach, so that I could have a challenge for the upcoming season,'' said Smith yesterday.

"That would have been the challenge I was looking for. But since the job has been given to Graham, just going over there as a player wouldn't be what I'm looking for motivation-wise.'' Smith admitted he had not been notified officially by the club that he was unsuccessful, but had heard "through the grapevine''.

And while he did not rule out remaining with his home club, it is unlikely he will be captain, having already expressed a desire to give up that role.

"I've considered it (staying) and if I do I may have to consider my place as captain,'' said Smith. "I may just go over there as a player and just try to enjoy it a bit more.

"It's all up in the air. I'll just take the winter off and come early February I'll make a decision.

"I have high expectations of the players and not everybody is willing or can put in the commitment and the team suffers in the long run.'' Last season St. David's adopted a policy to consider only league players for their County team and it paid off with a shock victory over Bailey's Bay in the final. It is anticipated that policy will remain next year so Smith's way into the Counties could be blocked unless he joins the Islanders in the league. "St.David's offered a lot of promise, they have some excellent youngsters and he was probably looking at the fact that he lives over there and he's going to play County and it would have been a little break from the pressures of St. George's,'' acknowledged Clay's older brother and mentor, Wendell, the former St. George's captain.

Wendell said he hoped his brother would remain with St. George's as they attempt to rebuild their programme next season. Wendell played only two matches last season because he was building a house while Clevie Wade missed the whole season because of injury. Both are planning to return next season.

"I'm strongly considering it and Clevie is looking forward to coming back too,'' Wendell confirmed.

"I will encourage Clay to reconsider staying at St. George's because it is all that we have ever known and lots of times the grass looks greener somewhere else.

"My advice to him would be don't let a few `fair weather' fans deter you. In any sport in Bermuda you have to have some thick skin to deal with some of the comments that come your way.'' Wendell is widely recognised as one of the best captains in local cricket and he did not totally rule out the suggestion that he could return as captain of St. George's next year, especially with last year's vice-captain, Dean Minors, away in school.

"If the club felt that's what they needed then I'm a club man and would give the club my services,'' said Smith.

"We have an AGM next week and perhaps some of these issues will be discussed.

"We have to look at other possibilities in terms of grooming people. If Clay didn't want it Dean might be ideal but unfortunately he's in school.

"Clay is very passionate and that translates into commitment and you come to expect the same from the other players. I think that's a difficult thing in Bermuda, and a lot of coaches go through that, when you have certain standards and you want and expect your players to be similarly committed.''