Diggers Rest Bulla has parted ways with playing coach Kevin Barker half way through the Gisborne and District Cricket Association season.
The club and Barker made the decision to go separate ways last week before the Burras McIntyre Cup game against Riddell on Saturday.
Burras’ president Sean Fitzpatrick said it was decided that Barker and the club were heading in different directions.
“He was unbelievable in the work he was doing off the field and we appreciate that,” he said. “We had a difference of opinion on which way the club should head and we decided to part ways.
“It was a mutual decision.”
Barker arrived at the club last season and guided the side to a grand final appearance. The grand final finished in a tie, but Gisborne won the premiership after finishing higher on the ladder.
In his time at the Burras, Barker averaged 35.10 with the bat and took 30 wickets.
Fitzpatrick said they were hoping to sort out the coaching situation for the rest of the season this week.
Former coach and current captain Rhys Berry took training last Thursday and looked after the side on Saturday against Riddell.
The Burras’ playing stocks took another hit with wicketkeeper Michael Sammut out for the rest of the season. The GDCA suspended Sammut at a tribunal hearing on Wednesday night over a sledging incident the previous weekend.
Sammut returned to the club this season. He averaged just over 17 with the bat and had taken five catches and made four stumpings.
Fitzpatrick said they would likely have to rely on bringing younger players through to fill the gap.
“Both of these players leave really big holes to fill,” he said.
“It would be hard to recruit players in one week in the middle of the season.
“We’ll be looking at bringing more kids through to fill the holes.”
On Saturday, the Burras suffered a big loss to Riddell in a one-day clash.
Despite the loss, the Burras remain third on the ladder.
