KEY POINTS:
With just days remaining until the start of the second test, it is still unclear who will manage the New Zealand cricket team in Napier.
Craig Ross was lined up to take over from long-time manager Lindsay Crocker and was last week flown to Dunedin for a US president-style transition. However, it appeared New Zealand Cricket (NZC) got 11th-hour jitters and Ross flew out on Tuesday.
It is understood Ross met with NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan, who returned from an ICC meeting in South Africa on Friday, in Christchurch yesterday
The Herald on Sunday spoke to Ross yesterday but was told he could not offer any comment while "the process continued".
An NZC spokesman said: "The situation remains unchanged. Lindsay Crocker remains with the team in his capacity as manager until further notice." Asked whether that meant he would be with the team in Napier, the spokesman said, "at this stage, yes".
It is believed a background check on Ross, on the insistence of the board at NZC, apparently turned up a couple of issues that required clarity. Why this was not done a long time before Ross had any contact with the team is a mystery, especially given that the former rowing boss has been on NZC's radar for some time as one of the leading candidates for the general manager of cricket role that eventually went to Geoff Allott.
Ross resigned from his rowing job after irregularities with funding applications and eventually was charged and convicted in July.
A subsequent appeal in September quashed the convictions but he had to pay costs of $15,000.
There was never any suggestion Ross benefited personally and, in fact, he admitted he used lotteries funding to purchase Italian-made skiffs after they were found to be quicker than New Zealand-made boats.
The skiffs were used at the Beijing Olympics in August.
There remains widespread consternation at the way the handover has been handled. A source close to the team described the treatment of Crocker as "diabolical".
Not helping the cause was the fact Vaughan was in South Africa and the issue was handled by Allott, who does not officially start his role until March.
In the absence of a formal farewell from NZC for Crocker, the Black Caps held a function for Crocker, whose position was made redundant in NZC's massive mid-year restructure, in Dunedin on Monday, a function that could now be premature.
Ross may have a legitimate grievance case if he is to be denied the team manager position now, given that his impending appointment became public knowledge.
