Former West Indies captain Brian Lara (left) talks with coach Bennett King during a recent World Cup cricket training session in Georgetown, Guyana. - Reuters

st. john's, antigua (cmc)

The West Indies Cricket Board has formally announced the resignation of Australian Bennett King as coach of the West Indies team.

Following newspaper reports early yesterday, the WICB said it could neither confirm nor deny that King had stepped down but later verified the official's resignation from the high-profile post.

King, however, will remain in the position until May 31 as he continues to assist in the setting up of the Regional Cricket Academy.

"The West Indies Cricket Board has accepted with regret the resignation of coach Bennett King," a WICB release said yesterday.

"Mr. King, in his resignation, offered to remain in office until May 31, 2007, to facilitate the establishment of the Regional Cricket Academy.

"Mr. King was responsible for establishing and managing the Australian Academy and developed the basic plan for a WICB Academy structure."

The release continued: "His presence during the month of May will provide us with an opportunity to better understand the challenges facing the board as it implements the new structure.

"Mr. King will not accompany the team on the England tour and the board will subsequently announce the management team, including the coach, for that tour."

Another departure

King's departure follows that of captain Brian Lara who on Saturday quit international cricket.

Both developments have also come in the wake of the West Indies' wretched Cricket World Cup performance where they finished only above Bangladesh and Ireland in the Super Eight second round.

The 42-year-old King was appointed in 2004 following the West Indies triumph in the Champions Trophy in England, under then coach Gus Logie.

During a tenure plagued with pay disputes between the WICB and the players' union, WIPA, King managed precious little success. The highlight of his time in charge came with West Indies beating India 4-1 in their one-day international series at home in 2006 and the regional team making the finals of the DLF Cup and the 2006 Champions Trophy.

King is the latest of several coaches to resign following disappointing World Cup campaigns. England's Duncan Fletcher, India's Greg Chappell and Dav Whatmore of Bangladesh have also tendered their resignations.

Last December, physical trainer Australian Bryce Cavanagh, a member of King's high-profile staff, resigned during the Pakistan tour.