Left: Dinanath Ramnarine, president of the West Indies Players Association.Right: Ken Gordon, West Indies Cricket Board president

West Indies cricketers are fed up of Bruce Aanensen and are demanding his immediate resignation.

Letters from the players and president of its representative body, Dinanath Ramnarine, were posted on the website CaribbeanCricket.com yesterday afternoon.

However, board president Ken Gordon says there is "no justification" to the players' complaint about Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bruce Aanensen's "negative management style", saying he was satisfied with the CEO's explanations and called on WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine to undertake a "self analysis" of his own style.

In a strongly-worded letter, the players on tour in England/Ireland said they were "highly offended" by the CEO's public statement describing them as "incompetent" and insists it's "virtually impossible to engage him in any meaningful manner."

'Highly offended'

In the letter to Ramnarine, the players said: "We would like to bring to your attention in your capacity as the president and chief executive officer of the West Indies Players Association our astonishment, disappointment and displeasure at remarks made by the chief executive officer of the West Indies Cricket Board, Mr. Bruce Aanensen, with regard to us players on the West Indies team.

"We, however, felt that it would be more appropriate to bring up this matter at the end of the England tour rather than during when the comments of Mr. Aanensen were actually made."

It continued: "We are highly offended that Mr. Aanensen saw it fit to have publicly labeled us the players as 'incompetent'. We register this with you and ask you to bring it to the attention of the directors of the West Indies Cricket Board as well as to the chairman of the cricket committee, Mr. Clive Lloyd. Please implore the directors and Mr. Lloyd that we the players wish for this matter to be seriously addressed and appropriate action taken."

Further, it said: "We are now left with the rather difficult situation of determining whether as players we would be able to continue working with Mr. Aanensen. Unfortunately, given the unfair and frankly thoughtless nature of his comments we would not be keen in having any further interaction at a professional level with Mr. Aanensen.

"From Mr. Aanensen's comments, for which, significantly, he has made no withdrawals or apologies, we would find it virtually impossible to engage him in any meaningful manner."

Ramnarine said since assuming the role as CEO of the WICB on April 16 this year, Aanensen's modus operandi' had been viewed unfavourably by the WIPA and called his management style "unfortunate and surprising for a CEO who has only recently assumed his position and should therefore be trying to build bridges for the future".

The WIPA president listed 12 recent examples of such negative management style, including "...displaying little tact as a CEO in publicly criticising the players as 'incompetent' while they were in the middle of a tour".

He added: Naturally, we recognise the right of WICB to employ anyone they choose but at the same time they should make every effort to select the right person for each job, especially if the position is a public, high-profile post where credibility and transparency are so important in the eyes of other relevant parties. With deep respect and in the view of the executive of WIPA and the players, Mr. Aanensen has not started off on the right foot."

Ramnarine concluded: "Given the above comments, we feel strongly that in the interest of W.I. cricket, Mr. Aanensen should be asked to resign with immediate effect so that the incoming board can start with a clean slate.

No justification to charges

Gordon admitted receipt of Ramnarine's letter dated July 12 and said that having discussed with Mr. Aanensen the alleged examples of "negative management style" about which you complain and heard his explanations, I am satisfied that there is no justification to your charges."

The WICB president added: "Nonetheless, it is desirable that I convey my own response to your complaint. It is of the utmost importance that organisations like WIPA and WICB should work closely together."

He further pointed out that Ramnarine, in his dealings with the WICB, was "frequently abusive" and caused "...complications in the communicationflow between our organisations for which you blame everyone but yourself."

"You have been frequently abusive to Deryck Murray and his team at negotiations and I have had to inform you that such behaviour is unacceptable. You have stated at meetings with one of our Board members and two executives of WICB present, that I am a liar. You have since denied saying so, while everyone present heard your comment. I even understand that you have informed both Barry Thomas and Tony Deyal that you would have them fired.

"In addition, you publicly denigrate the WICB Board, its officers and executive at every opportunity and remain constantly critical in the media.

"Now you state that Mr. Aanensen should be asked to resign because of his 'negative style'," queried Gordon rhetorically.

"Permit me to suggest that self analysis of your own style is long over due. I have urged you on more than one occasion to do so. You have done much on behalf of the players and I personally commend you for that. But you appear incapable of rising to the level of maturity now required if the relationship between WIPA and WICB is to contribute to the development of West Indies Cricket," Gordon added.

"It is not too late to attempt a new beginning and if you are disposed to doing so, I would be pleased to arrange a three cornered meeting before I demit office between Mr. Aanensen and us both."