Kent Cricket’s Chief Executive Jamie Clifford has told KSN how he was thrilled to have been able to appoint Jimmy Adams as the new Head Coach.

The former West Indies captain was unveiled as the leader of the side at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon and will begin his role at the beginning of February subject to the necessary work visa.

Clifford’s search for a replacement for former Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace began in ernest in early October with over sixty applicants for the coveted position.

High profile names from around the globe were linked with the job, with former Kent coach Graham Ford said to have been in the running, but Clifford insists that after a rigorous selection process, Kent have got the right man for the job:

“I’m pleased we’ve got there. We targeted getting it done by Christmas, but to have it done by the first day we’re back in the New Year is fine with me.”

“Jimmy as a person is someone that had a successful playing career and now he’s looking to move his coaching career onto the same place. I think he fits well with where we are and what we’re trying to achieve.”

“He seems to be in tune with the younger players and the culture that we have and let’s see where we get to.”

The signing of such a legend from within the game follows the capture of Charlie Shreck, Mike Powell and Ben Harmison. That along with the redevelopment of the St Lawrence Ground shows that Kent mean business and Clifford believes there is still work to do:

“This feels like a new era for the club, but I’m concious of not resting on our laurels. There is an awful lot of work still to do and we’ve got other irons in the fire.

“People criticise us for taking our time on getting things done, but we want to make sure we make all the right decision for Kent Cricket.”

One small stumbling block to overcome before Adams’ arrival to start at Kent is obtaining the necessary work visa, but Clifford doesn’t believe that will be a problem:

“You have got to be honest and say all the time he hasn’t got a visa, that is a concern, but people get visas and get into the country all the time.”

“Jimmy knows the route as he is backwards and forwards into the country all the time, so we will see where we get to. I’m not unduly concerned and it’s just one of those things we’ll have to manage through.”

“The hope is and Jimmy’s talking very positively about trying to get back for the beginning of February. If that happens then great, but to be honest there is a bit of wriggle room because the season doesn’t start on the 1st of February.”

“We’ll see if we can move it on quite quickly as that is one of the final pieces of the jigsaw we need to fit into place.”