Moles quits as New Zealand coach

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Andy Moles has resigned as  New Zealand coach, the country’s national cricket board  announced yesterday.

New Zealand reached the final of this month’s Champions  Trophy in South Africa but domestic media has reported that  unnamed senior players wanted Moles removed and NZC’s review  had been critical of Moles’ performance.

“Andy Moles has resigned as coach of the Blackcaps in the  best interests of New Zealand cricket,” New Zealand Cricket  (NZC) said in a statement on their website.

“This follows a review of the Blackcaps performance upon  their return from Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy.

“The parties reached an amicable agreement at mediation on  Friday, the terms of which are confidential to the parties,”  the statement said.

Moles, 48, succeeded John Bracewell last year as New  Zealand coach and was contracted until the 2011 one-day World  Cup.

“Andy has made a significant contribution to cricket in New  Zealand including the recent success on the Blackcaps team in  making the final of the Champions Trophy,” NZC chief Justin  Vaughan said.

No head coach would be named for the limited-overs series  against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates next month, the  statement said.

“It has been a great privilege to have been the coach of  the Blackcaps and, while I am sad to be leaving, I wish the  team every success in the future,” Moles said.