The Bermuda Cricket Board will have to appoint a local national coach because reduced funding will not allow for an overseas search for Clay Smith’s replacement.

The BCB began its search for a part-time Bermuda coach last week, with president Lloyd Smith confirming that the board does not have the luxury of shopping overseas.

“With our financial restrictions, local is pretty much the only way we can go,” said Smith, who has completed his first year in the post after replacing Lloyd Fray as president. “We can’t afford to have a coach from abroad, definitely not. We’re really up against it financially.”

Smith is hopeful to find a suitable candidate for the post, whose responsibilities include “developing, implementing and overseeing a comprehensive strategy to advance the national team’s international ranking”.

The new coach will also be required to prepare the team for international tournaments; plan, organise, direct and review all coaching sessions and produce detailed individual plans for player development, as well as overseeing all national team support staff.

“I haven’t heard of anybody putting in applications as of yet,” Smith said. “I know there is a deadline and I guess we will see after the deadline.”

The successful applicant must have a minimum of five years of successful coaching at the senior level and possess a Level Two qualification. Bermuda’s previous two overseas coaches were West Indian Gus Logie, who led the team to the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, and his Australian David Moore.

Logie quit the post in September 2009 and Moore took over four months later, a position he held until 2013 after he was given a six-month extension on his departure date to help interim coach Arnold Manders settle into the post.

“We don’t have the funding to go after a Logie or an international coach like that,” Smith stressed.

The BCB will also soon advertise for a new chief executive to replace Neil Speight who quit the post in October.

“We’re working on that as well,” Smith said. “We’re hoping to get an advertisement next month, including the criteria we’re asking for and wages we are looking to pay for the best candidate.”

Smith was also asked for his views on the recent ruling handed down by the Supreme Court of Bermuda that non-Bermudian “belongers” have been deemed eligible to represent the island in international sporting events.

In years gone by, Bermuda’s cricket programme was strengthened by the inclusion of West Indians such as Colin Blades, who went on to captain Bermuda, Rupert Scotland, Winston Reid, Adrian King, Robert Hinds, Lionel Thomas, Roger Blades, Tyrone Smith, Wendell White and Dennis Archer. South African Saleem Mukuddem and Archer were members of Bermuda’s team which achieved World Cup qualification in Ireland. Mukuddem was a member of the 2007 World Cup squad.

Smith said the ruling would have little or no impact on cricket. The BCB is guided by ICC regulations, which require players from Test-playing countries to serve a three-year qualification through residency and 18 months from Associate countries.

“In cricket, if you are good enough, there are regulations that you have to follow by ICC,” Smith said.