Chapple job never under threat: Allott

PAUL Allott insists Glen Chapple’s job as head coach was never in doubt despite Lancashire’s relegation from the top flight of the Specsavers County Championship.

A season which saw many tip them as favourites for the title ended in huge disappointment for the Red Rose as they dropped down into Division Two, failed to make it out of the group stage of the Royal London One-Day Cup and were beaten in the semi-finals of the Vitality Blast.

But they have already made moves to strengthen for next season, with Richard Gleeson having signed at the back end of last summer, and Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns hired as overseas players next season.

This summer’s display caused some critics among the Lancashire members to call for Chapple’s and Allott’s head among accusations that a ‘jobs for the boys’ club was operating at Emirates Old Trafford.

But director of cricket Allott has hit back at those claims, and says Chapple’s role was never in doubt.

“No. Not by me and not by the board,” Allott said.

“Maybe by some of the supporters. They are not very helpful that lot. I like criticism and can have a joke with the best of them, but they are distinctly unhelpful. Glen is highly thought of in the country and by the ECB.

“He has been tutoring a level four course this winter, he has coached England Lions, and he is highly regarded.

“There are elements of un-educated criticism that comes through about our coaches.

They have coached in other spheres. Mark Chilton has worked in Melbourne, he has been at Manchester Grammar.

“Karl Krikken, who will be additionally helping with the first team next season, has been director of cricket at Derbyshire, head coach at Derbyshire he is an ECB high-level coach and is highly thought of there.

“It’s not as if we don’t have experience in our coaching from outside the county, we do.

“Of course there is a jobs for the boys statement.

“I will put the boot on the other foot, if we had coaches from outside Lancashire we would have people saying ‘why are we employing people from outside Lancashire? We have plenty of people inside Lancashire?’

“These are the same people who cry out for young Lancashire players to be played, picked and nurtured, then when we have Lancashire coaches involved they are deemed not good enough!”