Fletcher to stay England coach for World Cup: ECB

London, Jan 31 (UNI) Critics may scoff at it but Duncan Fletcher will remain England's coach during the World Cup after ECB chairman David Morgan made it clear that the board would not look for any replacement despite the team's shambolic display down under.

''Duncan Fletcher does have my backing and I am certain -- I will say this categorically -- that he will coach England in the World Cup. Beyond that depends on how Duncan feels, how we go in the World Cup. He has my support and the support of the England team,'' Morgan was quoted as saying in 'The Guardian'.

England lost the Ashes 0-5, the first time in 86 years, and have won only one ODI in the ongoing tri-series against Australia and New Zealand. The pathetic performance has come in for sharp criticism with several former players demanding Fletcher's resignation but the ECB remains adamant that the coach would not be made to pay for the team's debacle.

''We've approached no other coach to take over but I don't believe we are at any risk at all. I would anticipate Duncan would be coaching England at the beginning of next summer,'' Morgan said expressing confidence that Fletcher would not leave the team.

''As in any other business situation we do have contingency issues in place. We have other coaches on our staff. The decision to replace the England head coach doesn't have to be made overnight. In every business that I've ever worked in you always have an emergency successor who may not necessarily be given the job full-time,'' he added explaining England's back-up plans.

Morgan said he understood well that the mounting pressure for Fletcher's removal may become unbearable if England's woeful form continues in the World Cup but asserted that Andrew Flintoff and Co were capable of turning things around in the mega-event.

''The pressure would be very strong if we had a poor World Cup. I am very hopeful we will have a better World Cup than we have had in recent times. Our record in one-day international cricket leaves a great deal to be desired. If I were to say we will win the World Cup, no one would believe me, but it is not impossible that we could do very well,'' the ECB chief said.

Describing Fletcher as a 'valuable asset, Morgan reiterated that the ECB would not use the Ashes disaster as an excuse to dump the coach.

''When Duncan was first employed he was on a fixed-term contract.

Here we have a very important employee, a very valuable asset, and we should treat him like we treat our other key senior personnel,'' he explained.

''If you turn the clock back just a bit, throughout 2004 and 2005 people were writing about this great England coach who should have a British passport, British citizenship and so on. I am not the sort of person who puts a great value on somebody one day and who has a major change of mind in no time at all. This man is a very good coach,'' he added.

UNI