|
By Thrasy Petropoulos
BBC Sport in Port Elizabeth
|
Woolmer is the ICC's high performance director
|
Bob Woolmer could become the new West Indies coach at the end of the World Cup.
The former South Africa coach has confirmed he was interviewed by the West Indies' four national selectors - including Sir Viv Richards - early last week in Kimberley.
"I had been told by good friend and Dr Rudi Webster [former Warwickshire bowler and director of the West Indies academy] the job would soon be vacant and he asked whether I wanted to submit my CV, which I did," Woolmer told the BBC Sport website.
"I had a two-and-a-half hour meeting with the West Indies selection panel in Kimberley early last week.
"I am not sure what will come of it. It is up to them to call me now. But it goes without saying, for the meeting to last as long as it did means it was encouraging on both sides."
The former England all-rounder added: "The one thing I did make clear was if I was going to coach a national side again I would expect to be able to implement the various techniques that I have developed over the years.
The WICB have progressed to the point of talking dollars with Woolmer
|
"But I am interested in the job. Otherwise I would not have expressed
my interest."
Roger Harper, the current coach, has not re-applied for the position and has not been offered an extension to his contract, which expires after the World Cup.
Richards and the other West Indies selectors have therefore taken advantage of the tournament to approach other possible candidates.
Australian academy coach Bennett King and KwaZulu-Natal's Eldine Baptiste were also interviewed.
One source said Richards was "very impressed" with Bennett King's candidacy and was on the verge of offering him the job before Woolmer came into the picture.
The source added: "The WICB have progressed to the point of talking dollars with Woolmer, so it's a safe bet he is the man they want."
Woolmer has also been offered a two-year extension by the ICC to his position as high performance director, working with the associate member countries, Kenya, Canada, Holland, and Namibia.
Before his meeting with the WICB, he said he was "99% certain" to accept the extension.