New Zealand Cricket board rebuffs last-minute deal to retain Wright as coach

Wellington, May 2(ANI): The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) board has rejected a last-ditch effort from chief executive David White to keep John Wright as the coach of the national team.

White had devised a compromise deal between New Zealand's director of cricket, John Buchanan and Wright, by ensuring he wasn't answerable Buchanan but to him.

However, the Chris Moller-led board has rejected this last minute deal.

A major difference in philosophy between Wright and Buchanan, who is one year into a lucrative four-year deal, saw Wright reject New Zealand Cricket' offer of a contract through till the 2015 World Cup.

Wright couldn't see a way forward, and will quit when his agreement expires in August after the West Indies tour, just 18 months since he took over the side at its lowest ebb.

He dodged a question as 'hypothetical' yesterday about whether he would have signed up again if Buchanan wasn't his superior.

"We see things a little differently. It's fair to say we're more comfortable coaching against each other, which we did for four-and-a-half years," Stuff.co.nz quoted Wright, as saying.

Asked directly if his board had rejected White's proposal, Moller would neither confirm nor deny, and referred all questions to White, who was the designated NZC spokesman. (ANI)