'Pay for SL job embarrassing' - Rixon

[Switchblade]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/current/story/690365.html Steve Rixon, Australia's assistant coach, has said the remuneration Sri Lanka Cricket offered when they approached him for the job of the national team's coach was "embarrassing", considering the position. Though he had not formally applied, Rixon was among the men the board approached after they were underwhelmed by the 11 applications they had received for the role. Rixon is highly rated internationally and within the Sri Lanka team, having coached New Zealand as well as domestic teams in Australia and an IPL team in India. Former international coaches Greg Chappell and Tim Nielsen were also approached by SLC but, like Rixon, had declined. "Sri Lanka Cricket sent me a contract which was really embarrassing, I have to say, because it was so poor," Rixon said. "I'm the assistant coach of Australia, and I get more staying with that job than on the contract they sent through. It was really quite embarrassing for an international coach. "In the end I just texted back several times and said, 'Look, we're talking massive differences in the job package, and I'm not here to debate it with anyone, but where I would be coming from is a lot bigger than what Sri Lanka can afford.' I was looking forward to sitting down and talking to someone, but no one's really given me that respect I suppose, to be able to do that. And I said no, I'm not really interested." SLC had evaluated its candidates through a series of interviews and presentations, but Rixon had been perturbed by the request to travel to Sri Lanka for an interview, and by the board's sporadic communication with him. "Don't expect me to come running over there to do an interview. Interviews are a waste of time. You either want someone, and you know that, or you don't," Rixon said. "I've been around first-class cricket for 20-odd years as a coach. I played for 15 years as a player. It's not as if I'm unknown. I think they'd know what I can and can't do without sitting me down in front of a group of people. It was a bit disappointing the way it was processed, and in the end I thought it's not the way to go." Rixon said his initial interest in the job was borne from his affinity for Sri Lanka over several years of observing the team. However, while insufficient pay drove his decision to decline the job, the SLC's sudden sacking of Geoff Marsh in 2012 and the board's reputation also influenced him. "What happened with Geoff Marsh would have been one of the things that played on my mind," Rixon said. "I've also talked to a lot of Sri Lankan players and the fact that they don't get paid when they're meant to paid. The administration has had their share of controversies, and a number of things. "But to be honest, Sri Lanka was always one place that intrigued me. I liked Sri Lanka and I think the country is lovely and, of all the Asian countries, it's by far the one that appeals to me the most. With the sort of people that you were dealing with around ten years ago, I thought they were good people and it did interest me. I did think about moving to Sri Lanka, but the harsh reality is you don't have enough money in the set-up." The only foreign coach that remains on SLC's two-man shortlist is Mark Davis, a little-known coach who is currently among the staff at Sussex. Rixon suggested said the pay attached to the Sri Lanka role would only appeal to coaches on the make, rather than more established international names. "If you want to get a coach who is a career coach and just making his way, and that sort of thing, no problems, you might get someone for that," he said. "But you're not going to get someone who's been around and coached internationally, and coached all over the world, unless you're prepared to pay a reasonable dollar. You're making a big sacrifice to go live in Sri Lanka, and to turn your life on its head. To do that, you really need to have a package that's certainly acceptable."

[G_B_]

go for a local coach. I am sure $50,000 goes a long way in sl. somebody like Rixon has to feed his family in aus

[Temujin Khaghan]

how much is fletcher's paycheck?

[Scarves]

Still hating on them for dropping Swampy. Get like a Gurusinha or someone similar.

[Zanjeer]

I don't understand how sl cricket is bankrupt when they are playing against India every other month. Poor poor stuff from Loins.

[SLICKR392]

LOL

[GoldenSun]

:giggle:

[vvvslaxman]

He can join as Pune warrior coach and make more? lol

[ganeshran]

Don't know why he had to rant about it publicly. If you feel that the pay package a company offers you is too less, you decline it politely and move on

[Scarves]

Don't know why he had to rant about it publicly. If you feel that the pay package a company offers you is too less, you decline it politely and move on

To make it aware considering the players don't really get paid either.

[G_B_]

how much do international coaches make? interesting to note that Ford left SL to be appointed coach of Surrey.

[ganeshran]

To make it aware considering the players don't really get paid either.

Players are contracted and depend on the money for their livelihood. They have the right to go public if they are not paid for a long time. For Rixon, it was just a job offer. It's not like the SLC held a gun to his head and asked him to accept.

[Sean Bradley]

Nothing funny if someone cant afford someone, there was no need for Rixon to go out in the media for such petty issues, move on find another job.

[jusarrived]

its actually an embarassing offer for a national coachs position

[Trundler27]

Very lame by Rixon... doesn't show him in good light at all.... Lankans ko bhi chaadar dekh kar pair phelaane chahiye I don't know why they wouldn't want to give a local coach an opportunity here since they don't really have a good team atm so a big name won't do much imo

[rajmarie]

Nothing funny if someone cant afford someone' date=' there was no need for Rixon to go out in the media for such petty issues, move on find another job.[/quote'] Exactly.....if Rixon or anybody feels that they can get more from other place....politely say no & move on...no need to embarass any such offer & make the predecessor look small in anyway. Plus..never know in future he might not be able to get this pay offer also from SL or any other place. Plus..SL cricket is going down for sometime. SL should appoint someone who can make the team play better cricket & find some younger guys who will serve them in the future. Maybe be SL coach is the answer.

[Temujin Khaghan]

now atherton will start beating his communist equal sharing drum again

[ganeshran]

Isn't Rixon the guy who scolded Murali Vijay after he dropped an embarrassingly simple catch for CSK

[Executioner]

This is some poor stuff from Rixon guy. This interview will ruin his image. If I were a BCB president I would think twice before appointing him as national coach. His comments seemed negative about lankan cricket. Best option would have been to politely say no.

[Square Drive]

SLC :hehe: Attapattu will get it now.