The flip side of the coin with Sanath Martis resignation.

By Brian Thomas, Reporting for SriLanka sports. Com

Pertinent questions going around did Sanath Martis resign due to a financial issue he faced with SLRFU or due to a negative mindset of the administrators.

I guess the latter might be the cause because Sanath Martis bread and butter comes from the coffers of St Peters , and the offer he took as head coach of the National team for the New Zealand under 85 kg tour was an addition to his illustrious bio data , the prestige that goes with it and the opportunity.

Guess we can throw the money issue out of the window.

The debate was the relationship between the administration and the coach.

What are the prerequisites Sanath Martis would have requested from SLRFU ?

Proper practice facilities for the squad in terms of grounds , practice schedule as per his convenience in consultation with players , gym facilities , to international standards , pool facilities , nutrition, diet guidelines through a professional dietision, dining facilities for players after practice, obviously tackle pads and scrum machine.

The big question is, did he get all his prerequisites without let or hinderence? Did the SLRFU cooperate with him, or did he have to secure all the above with the aid of outsiders ?

Was he a part of the press conference ?

Did the media have a first-hand opinion from Sanath Martis on player wellbeing and injuries ?

In other words, was Martis sidelined from the head table of the prestigious press conference ?

Did Martis only play second fiddle in the final selection of the two squads for the two legs ?

Priyantha Ekanayaka was critical about the first team selected to play for the first leg , and it is an open secret that he was critical by pointing the finger at Sanath Martis. Priyantha must also point the finger at the selectors on this issue and not take the coach as the scapegoat.

Sadly, in SriLanka, when a team wins, the players are on top of the tree if the team loses coach his hung, on the same tree, not the players .

It is come to light their was no love lost between the administration and coach Sanath Martis. The bursting of the bubble was inevitable.

Sponsors should be given credit for the hospitality given to both teams in terms of accommodation, transport, and exquisite cuisine.

Supplements were taken care of, so players’ comfort looked tikety boo.

Here comes the missing link. Simple when you travel overseas, players’ payments are budgeted as top priority. Sadly, for this tour, it is appling to note that it was the least in the minds of the pundits because it was in Sri Lanka.

Remember, no players, no game. This is why SLC is very cautious with players’ renumeration and contacts.

I still feel that time is a healer . Let’s put Sanath Martis to concentrate on the school league season because the side he coaches, namely St Peters, have their share of issues, and Sanath Martis is a win-win coach. I guess he has a plateful already.

For SLRFU , we know these are very difficult times when coffers go empty, get financial experts like what SLC did, and build a stable capital through improvised marketing.