Legendary West Indies opener Gordon Greenidge is not about to be appointed Bermuda's national cricket coach, contrary to a report which appeared in yesterday's Mid-Ocean News .

And Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James was yesterday fuming over the story by sports editor Dexter Smith which he labelled as "pure fiction.'' "Gordon Greenidge wasn't even an applicant and neither was Desmond Haynes which the story also mentioned,'' stormed James. "I've got no idea where this report came from. But I can assure you it is completely wrong.'' The Mid-Ocean News report stated that Greenidge, the former coach of Bangladesh, had been chosen this week from a short list which also included his former West Indies opening partner Haynes.

However, James insisted that neither player was on the short list which was drawn up after the BCBC chief and first vice-president Reginald Pearman conducted a series of interviews during a recent trip to England.

James and Pearman met with the BCBC coaching committee this week when it was hoped that their first choice for the post would be endorsed.

However, James said yesterday he was still not in a position to divulge whether any decision had been reached.

Earlier in the week he said: "All I am prepared to say at this moment is that we have interviewed some people while in England recently and we returned with a short list of very capable people for the job.'' The BCBC agreed some months ago that they needed a full-time coach to guide Bermuda towards next year's ICC Trophy Tournament in Canada and ultimately the next World Cup.

The national squad are currently in training for a regional tournament in Canada early next month and then the Caribbean Red Stripe Bowl in October.

El James: shocked by yesterday's Mid-Ocean News story.