NW CRICKET: Ian McGregor handed Elite Manager role

At last week's North West General Meeting at Eglinton included a number of proposed personnel and role changes within the Union, uppermost of which was the introduction of an Elite Cricket Manager to oversee all the various strands of representative cricket in the region.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Apr 2016, 07:00 BST
Ian McGregor.Ian McGregor.
Ian McGregor.

At present the North West relies on an Elite Cricket Committee consisting of Billy Henderson, Andrew Fleming and Peter McCartney; however the Union Chairman felt that there was a pressing requirement to bring all the different elements together under a single manager.

“The Elite Committee is responsible for the three strands of the elite cricket programme- namely the Warriors, Warriors Academy and Regional Development Squads,” said the St Johnston man.

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“In the absence of an ‘Elite Manager’ I am coming under more pressure to make decisions on coaching appointments as well as about what is best for the elite side of the game strategically.

“This is not good practice for a number of reasons, but fundamentally I do not feel equipped or qualified to be performing that role.

“Neither do I believe that it should be within the remit of the Chair of the North West Cricket Union, or indeed within that of the Elite Cricket Committee either.

“Before the General Meeting I sought the views of the Elite Committee and our proposal is that we combine the role of Warriors’ Head Coach with that of Elite Manager for the region. Ian McGregor is willing and able to take on the role in a volunteer capacity in addition to his Warriors Head Coach duties.

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“The Elite Committee will still be responsible for issues pertaining to the Head Coach/Performance Director and the employed staff within the Union as well as the Warriors’ Selection Panel and along with Cricket Ireland, the National Selector.

“We envisage that the Elite Manager role would see Ian take on direct responsibility for the development and performance of the Warriors Academy and Regional Development Squads as well as the senior Interprovincial team.

“He will also have full responsibility for the selection of, and developing pathways for elite coaches.”

The proposal was passed uncontested leaving McGregor to assume that responsibility with immediate effect.