Windies coach Bennett King - Junior Dowie / Staff Photographer

CONFIRMING a report published in The Glea-ner yesterday, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) formally announced that its Australian coach, Bennett King, has resigned.

"The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has accepted with regret the resignation of coach, Bennett King," read a statement posted on its site www.windies-cricket.com yesterday afternoon.

King's resignation follows the regional team's poor showing in the Cricket World Cup, where it placed a disappointing sixth, managing to beat only two Test nations - Pakistan and Bangladesh.

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The 42-year-old King, who took over the job from former West Indies middle order batsman Augustine Logie immediately after the team had won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004, was contracted to coach the team until November.

However, King, who was in charge of the Australian Cricket Academy before taking up duties here, will continue working with the WI Board until the end of May to set up an academy in the region.

"Mr. King, in his resignation, offered to remain in office until May 31, 2007, to facilitate the establishment of the regional cricket academy," the WICB statement read. "Mr. King was responsible for establishing and managing the Australian academy and developed the basic plan for a WICB academy structure."

It added: "His presence during the month of May will provide us with an opportunity to better understand the challenges facing the board as it implements the new structure."

Despite his extension, King will not accompany the WI team on the upcoming England tour next month, and, according to the statement, the board will name a new coach.

"Mr. King will not accompany the team on the England tour and the board will subsequently announce the management team, including the coach, forthat tour."