The ECB has worked out a long-term deal for England coach Andy Flower and plans to meet him at the end of the month to discuss his future with the side, according to reports in the Daily Telegraph.
The move is believed to be prompted by concerns that Flower is on the
BCCI's shortlist to replace Gary Kirsten, whose tenure as the India
coach ended with the World Cup.
Flower has been integral to England's recent successes, including
back-to-back Ashes series wins and a victorious 2010 World Twenty20
campaign. It is understood that England are keen to retain Flower,
especially after being criticised for losing former bowling coach Troy
Cooley to the Australian team.
At the end of the physically and emotionally draining Ashes campaign,
Flower would only say about his England future that "personally I don't
look much further forward than a few months". Flower - whose assignment
meant he spent large amounts of time at a stretch away from his young
family - was critical of England's jam-packed schedule last winter.
Coaching India will be an even more rigorous job, with the additional
challenges of dealing with the expectations and politics of the
subcontinent.
Flower is currently believed to be on a rolling staff contract which
offers the same protection rights as any other full-time employee.
Indications are that he may be offered a fixed-term, three-year deal
that could include clauses to protect the ECB from losing him to a third
party. Such a contract would put Flower in charge for the next two
Ashes, but not the 2015 World Cup.
India's next international assignment is their tour of West Indies which
kicks off on June 4, for which they are likely to have an interim
coach. They are expected to name a full-time coach only ahead of the
England tour starting mid-July.
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