Williams eyes full-time job

Interim West Indies coach David Williams has said he is keen on filling the full-time post made vacant after the axing of John Dyson. Williams, 45, the former West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman, served as Dyson's assistant till the end of the recent Bangladesh series at home.

Following Dyson's sacking after West Indies' dismal performance in the two Tests and three ODIs against Bangladesh, the WICB appointed Williams to oversee next month's Champions Trophy in South Africa. But Williams said he was keen on taking up the top job permanently.

"Of course I am interested. I am the assistant coach and it is only natural I would want to one day become the head coach of the team," Williams told CMC Sport. "I set certain standards for myself as far as my coaching goes and would like to end up as head coach."

Williams, who played 11 Tests and 36 ODIs between 1992 and 1998, was appointed assistant coach in September 2007 when the West Indies travelled to South Africa for the inaugural World Twenty20. At the time, he served as deputy to David Moore, the then interim head coach, before Dyson took over later that year.

Williams refused to comment on Dyson's departure but said he was now focused on West Indies' success in the Champions Trophy, which runs from September 22 to October 5.

"I am not aware of the situation concerning the removal of John as coach and I am staying far away from that," he said. "I have been given a job to do with this team and I am going to do my best. At the end of the day, one has his reputation at stake and every time I go out there, I try to give my best.

"As a coach you need a good run and I am hoping that the WICB follows protocol and offer me the top job once it is available."

Williams will be in charge of a makeshift West Indies side after several top players, including Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, were overlooked for the Champions Trophy. The move followed the controversial Bangladesh Test series when all the star players made themselves unavailable because of a contracts dispute between the board and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).