Tigers coach Dan Marsh sacked by Cricket Tasmania

ONE of Cricket Tasmania’s favourite sons has been axed as the sports governing body threatens to implode among rumours of a “boy’s club culture”, leaks and infighting.

Tigers coach Dan Marsh has been sacked by Cricket Tasmania. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

ONE of Cricket Tasmania’s favourite sons has been axed as the sports governing body threatens to implode among rumours of a “boys club culture”, leaks and infighting.

New chief executive Nick Cummins will have a power of work to do when he arrives in April following Marsh’s immediate departure and the sacking of Hobart Hurricanes coach Damien Wright last month.

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Marsh, who captained the Tigers to their first ever Sheffield Shield title in 2006-07, was left in shock when he was informed of the decision, ending his tenure at Blundstone Arena after three and a half seasons in charge.

Assistant Richard Allanby will be the interim coach for the final three games.

The sacking comes after Marsh, 43, was given a two-year contract extension in March last year, and was wheeled out at a press conference on Tuesday where he declared he was the right man to lead the state.

At the time of the contract extension, CT chairman Andrew Gaggin said: “Tasmanian cricket is on a journey and it will take time and patience to rebuild the squad by identifying the right players.”

But it is now clear patience has run out.

Gaggin said the performance of the Tigers had not been up to the standard expected and the time had come for “a fresh approach and coaching structure”.

“The players are the ones who perform on the field, but the head coach has ultimate responsibility for results and performance,” Gaggin said in a statement.

Unconfirmed reports of Marsh’s sacking were circulating before Marsh had even been informed.

One high level CT insider, who did not wish to be named, said the review needed to start at the top, not with the coaching staff.

“Management recommended Dan be reappointed for two years,” he said.

“The review of coaching and high performance has to go further than the senior coach and hopefully Nick Cummins is the man to do the job.

“It has developed into a boys club and it seems if you are in the boys club, you are guaranteed a job and guaranteed to play.

“That needs to be addressed if Tasmania is to get back to the force in interstate cricket it has been in the last decade.”

Not only was Marsh left in shock, but senior assistant and long time faithful Tasmanian cricket servant Damien Wright was also filthy.

The Mercury understand Wright was engaged in a heated argument with under-pressure cricket operations manager Andrew Dykes after being informed of Marsh’s sacking and the instalment of Allanby as interim coach.

Tasmanian and Australian limited overs all-rounder James Faulkner told interstate radio the players need to take their share of the blame.

“I think a lot of it comes down to if the players are brutally honest, including myself … but at the end of the day we are the ones out on the field and we need to perform better as well,” Faulkner said on EON Sports Radio.

“You can have the best coach in the world but if your players aren’t stepping up it makes it really hard. I’m feeling for him at the moment.”

Marsh took the role from Tim Coyle after the Tigers won their third Sheffield Shield crown in 2012-13, a golden era in Tasmanian cricket.

But the Tigers have struggled to rebuild, having finished fifth, fifth and last under Marsh and are on track for another wooden spoon this season.

Tasmania has won just eight of 37 games with Marsh in charge, a winning rate of 21.6 per cent, and aside from Jackson Bird, has not had a realistic contender for Test selection.

The retirements of the state’s two highest Shield wicket-takers, Ben Hilfenhaus and Luke Butterworth, and the departure of experienced top-order batsmen Ed Cowan and Mark Cosgrove, has not helped but the development of younger players and recruiting has been questionable.