Simmons’ West Indies move ‘not a done deal’, say Ireland

CANBERRA: Cricket Ireland has refused to comment on speculation that their coach Phil Simmons may be heading home to the Caribbean after the World Cup to coach the West Indies, saying nothing had been finalised yet.
Media reports over the past few days have suggested that Simmons is one of the top contenders for the West Indies coach’s job which is lying vacant since the sacking of Ottis Gibson last August.
The West Indies are being coached at the World Cup by Stuart Williams and Andre Coley with former captain Richie Richardson serving as manager.
The Irish team said neither Simmons nor the board will comment on the coach’s future till the tournament was over.
“It is not something we want to talk about when the tournament is on,” Cricket Ireland’s media manager Barry Chambers told AFP during the Pool B match against South Africa at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Tuesday.
“Nothing has been finalised. It is definitely not a done deal.”
Simmons, who turns 52 next month, has enjoyed considerable success in his eight years with Ireland, taking the non-Test playing nation to three World Cup and four World Twenty20 appearances.
His contract will run out in December, but it is unlikely Cricket Ireland will stand in the way if Simmons is offered the job with the West Indies, who plan to have a new coach before the home series against England starting next month.
Simmons played 26 Tests and 143 one-day internationals during his 12-year career with the West Indies that ended in 1999.