Cup Match challengers Somerset Cricket Club came under heavy fire yesterday for the manner in which former skipper Janeiro Tucker was sacked under a veil of secrecy.

George (Friday) Bremar, who made eight Cup Match appearances for the West Enders between 1959 and 1971, accused Somerset officials of mistreating the former skipper, who has decided not to play in this year’s classic at Wellington Oval.

According to Tucker, Somerset officials originally informed him about possible changes to the captaincy of their Cup Match team in May on the back of two consecutive losses against East End rivals St. George’s.

But after appointing left-arm spinner Hassan Durham as Tucker’s successor behind closed doors, Somerset CC president Richard Scott summoned the Southampton Rangers player/coach to his workplace in Hamilton on July 2 to inform him of the club’s final decision regarding the captaincy.

“I didn’t like the way it all went down because it wasn’t done in the proper manner,” Bremar argued. “Janeiro was told he would be informed of any change last May and told by the club that they would get back to him within a week. But look how long it took them . . . he was only informed last week.”

Bremar felt that club management and Cup Match selectors should have officially met with the outgoing and incoming captains at a designated venue, as was the case when Tucker succeeded Albert Steede as captain in 2004 at an official gathering attended by both skippers.

“They should’ve arranged a proper meeting with him to discuss certain issues and go from there. Instead, they just left the man in a hole, and I think this is what has really hurt him because people do have feelings,” he added.

“That really hurt Janeiro and everywhere you go people are accusing Somerset of jerking people around and asking what on earth is going on up there? I think they went about it the wrong way, and that’s all I have to say.”

Despite Somerset having lost the last two Cup Matches, Bremar still thinks that Tucker is the right man for the job.

“To drop him because he lost two Cup Matches is not right because I know of other Somerset skippers who have lost more than two Cup Matches,” the former medium pacer said. “Charles (Buckjuice) Swan lost five matches and I know this for a fact because I played under him.”

With Somerset going through a rebuilding phase, Bremar said he did not see the logic in the club’s decision to appoint one of the oldest players on the way out of the game as captain.

“They said they wanted a club man to captain the team, but then chose Hassan (Durham) over Jacobi (Robinson),” he added. “Hassan just came out of nowhere and this is only his first season playing with Somerset’s league team.

“I am shocked and really don’t think this was the right time to do this sort of a thing because we don’t have the cup. We have to retrieve it and it takes team effort to get behind the skipper. And I just can’t see Hassan captaining the side.”

Bremar’s sentiments were echoed by former Somerset Cup Match batsman and coach Jeff Richardson, who was also critical of the club’s handling of the affair.

&# 8220;As far as this whole matter is concerned, I just think it’s a very delicate situation leading up to the match and personally feel that it’s come at an inopportune time with the classic just a couple of weeks away,” said Richardson, speaking from Barbados.

“If this was the direction in which the club wanted to travel then the decision should have been announced much earlier. I feel for Janeiro because something like this is very difficult, and I wish the Somerset selectors lots of luck because they are going to need it. I think it’s going to be very interesting to see the fall out that comes from their decision.”

When pressed on the matter yesterday, Somerset president Scott stated: “I have no comment to make to the press because the press tell lies.”