Lawyer Charles Richardson yesterday accused Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) of conspiring to undermine his bid to become the Board's new secretary.

The veteran Cleveland County cricketer, who had garnered the strong backing of BCB affiliates, lost by a single vote to former BCB secretary Charlotte (Molly) Simons during elections held at Warwick Workman's Club earlier this week which saw senior Board executives also take part in the voting process.

Richardson claims he was deliberately left in the dark as he was never formally notified of Tuesday's meeting and maintains he only learned that he had been nominated for Marc Wetherhill's vacated post in an article that appeared in The Royal Gazette nearly two months ago.

"I didn't hear anything from the BCB and because the story appeared in the paper that particular day Neil Speight (BCB chief executive) called and told me he will get back to me and the next thing I hear a vote has already taken place," Richardson said. "This really looks like a conspiracy to make sure nobody like me finds a way inside their little sanctum. I didn't even know a vote had taken place and it's clear they never wanted me to have the position and shows they can do whatever they like."

BCB executive Gary Fray refuted the lawyer's claims of a conspiracy within the Board to hand pick the individual of choice to come onboard as secretary.

"Richardson is only trying to start trouble and if he would've attended the meeting then he would have seen what actually took place," the long-serving Board executive said.

"He was nominated and as I have been made to understand Neil (Speight) could not get hold of him. But he knew the meeting was going to be held because every club received correspondence informing them about it.

"I know for a fact that Neil tried to contact him on the phone that day (Tuesday) because I said if Richardson was being nominated then he should be present at the meeting to show interest. But Neil could not get hold of him that day and in due process you don't have to be present at the meeting to be nominated by the clubs."

Simons edged Richardson by a vote of eight to seven to regain a post she previously served in for seven years before making way for the now retired Wetherhill in 2005. Richardson has already pondered taking some form of action. "I'm really wondering, should I be challenging the vote to see whether it is null and void? Because this is certainly not in accordance with the principles of natural justice. How does this give me a fair shake? It seems to me the BCB don't want to give anyone a fair shake. They never have and never will," he argued.

"Was I treated on equal footing with my opponent (Simons)? Did she get a chance to address the affiliates before they voted? The fact that they have dealt with this matter the way they have is indicative of the way they have been dealing with people all along. The present administration wanted this lady as the secretary. I thought the Board wanted to move forward. But now we've gone back to the old secretary - a lady who doesn't even play cricket.

"The BCB have clearly shown they do not intend to give anybody who is not within their inner sanctum a fair shake. So they can go and waste the Government's $11 million as they see fit."