Cricket: Moles unlikely to stay for long

Moles is contracted until the end of the 2011 World Cup, but it's looking as if there will be a deal so he leaves soon. Photo / Getty Images

If New Zealand were this morning flying to Dubai for their limited-overs series against Pakistan, coach Andy Moles would most likely have been on board.

He might still be, when the squad head to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, depending on the state of negotiations with New Zealand Cricket.

Moles, who is contracted until the end of the 2011 World Cup, effectively became a dead man walking this week amid revelations that there was unease from a variety of quarters over the lack of progress being made under his regime.

The former Warwickshire batsman took charge just under a year ago but NZC have been aware of growing concerns that all was not well for some months.

Moles began talks with NZC yesterday. Last night, the national body issued a one-sentence statement, that it would be making "no further comment today".

It is understood the process is at a point where the two parties are settling on a number to pay out Moles for the remainder of his contract.

If it is not resolved before Tuesday it is likely that, for legal reasons, Moles would travel to the UAE, with the resolution to be left until the end of that short trip.

There appear to be three options:

Moles walks away with a satisfactory payout, perhaps in the region of $300,000, and a short-term stand-in installed for the five limited-overs internationals against Pakistan.

If a settlement is not reached, Moles goes to the UAE, on a "business as usual" basis.

Or New Zealand could go to UAE with a manager, support staff and the players, with captain Dan Vettori carrying on in an enhanced leadership role.

The problem for the Englishman is that he has effectively lost the dressing room. He is on borrowed time, whichever path is taken by NZC.

The players will be a mix of those who don't want Moles to continue, and those who are embarrassed about the situation. Neither group will find it easy looking him in the eye on the plane, or in the dressing room should he go to the UAE.

And in purely personal terms it is awkward for Moles, whose previous international jobs with Kenya and Scotland ended unhappily. Yet the bottom line is that he is a professional, and if looked at in those terms, this is life. If it is felt an employee is not performing, he becomes vulnerable.

What are the short-term options, remembering the UAE trip is only two weeks long? Former test captain and Indian coach John Wright is the first name on most lips.

Wright is working in NZC's high performance programme, having been shifted sideways from a national selection role to an advisory capacity.

There are alternatives, but perhaps one won't be needed until the three-test series against Pakistan starts in Dunedin on November 24.