cricket coach.

Parfitt this week revealed that he wants to hear more from the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control about what the job would entail.

The former Bermuda and St. George's Cup Match bowling star said that discussions with BCBC president El James on a recent trip to the Island had whet his appetite for more details about the job.

"I really didn't expect anything to happen because I was there on vacation,'' said Parfitt from his home in Scotland. "But to be honest I do expect to hear something further from the board about the situation.

"While in Bermuda I didn't check too deep into the cricket situation, not to the degree of seeing whether it would be worthwhile to come back. But the truth of the matter is that if something did come up and I was approached then I probably would evaluate everything carefully and give it some thought.'' It is understood that all James could ask Parfitt was whether he would be interested if he was approached. Parfitt said he could only express mild interest.

James was reluctant to discuss his talks with Parfitt, but he confirmed it was a formal approach seeking his interest if and when the post was advertised -- not a mere friendly chat as some have suggested.

However one person with lengthy ties with cricket at various levels, former St. George's Cricket Club president Mansfield Smith felt Bermuda needed a foreign coach, preferably one from South Africa or Australia.

"The BCBC needs to hire one from these countries, not a Bermudian. I pick these two countries because they are now on the top of world cricket and who better to teach our players than those at the top?'' said Smith.

"I have learned that our players respect a foreign coach more than a local, a local just doesn't get the respect required. Parfitt is still in the category of a Bermuda coach although he is based in Scotland.'' Smith believed the Board should employ such a prominent coach on a long-term contract. Short-term appointments were helpful to assist a team for a specific tournament, he said, but Bermuda now needed somebody to oversee the development of cricket on the Island, particularly in the schools.

Smith said it was important for the coach to tour with the national squads.

Bermuda travelled to past ICC tournaments without previous national coaches Bob Jones and Doug Ferguson.

"A full time coach that has been involved in preparing the team has every right to offer his assistance on tour -- not being allowed to do so would be a blunder,'' said Smith.

Clarence Parfitt: Asking for a job description.