PORT OF SPAIN. Trinidad. July 6: Seeking fresh faces to lead a team scarred by contro- versy, the West Indies Cricket Board says it will advertise for a coach and manager instead of choosing from a list of ex-stars and team employees, reports AP.

“There will be no handpicking for it this time." Board president Patrick Rousseau told The Associated Press after a two-hour meeting Sunday with members of the Caribbean Community trade group. “Everybody who feels they have the qualifications can apply.”

The contracts of manager Clive Lloyd and coach Malcom Marshall expire in October.

The West Indies team has been shaken in the last year by a players' revolt and a drubbing by South Africa in December. A bottle-throwing attack by crowds in April and the storming of the field by players that stopped a match against Australia have further embarrassed the board.

Advertising is the “only way to ensure we make the best possible selection," Rousseau said. “England opened it up to eveiy-body including non-English-men. 1 don't think we need to do that, but I.am just showing how important it is to widen the

net."

The names of former players Vivian Richards and Gordon Greenidge have surfaced since Richards stood in for Marshall during the World Cup and Greenidge's departure from the Bangladesh team.

Lloyd has already endorsed Greenidge to take over Marshall's job. Marshall had to undergo an operation for cancer of the stomach during the World

Cup and is unlikely to retain the job.

The cricket team's troubles have attracted the attention of the Caribbean Community, which is being asked to guaran-

tee as much as 15 million dollars in loans to prepare for the 2007 World Cup.

The region has to begin paying the International Cricket Conference in 2004 for planning of the event. Rousseau said.

On Sunday, the board also talked with Caribbean leaders about proposed legislation waiving visa, customs and immigrations for players traveling between Caribbean countries. Some games may also be-played in Bermuda and Florida because the World Cup is granted to hemispheres rather than countries, Rousseau said.

“If we have to deal with the normal visa, customs and immigration systems, we'll never be able to run the World Clip," Rousseau said.

He said the region might also need to seek funding to build new cricket grounds in preparation for the World Gup. Officials expect 12 teams to participate in the series.

At a meeting in Antiqua Wednesday, the board will also look at ways to improve security after the incidents of crowd unrest.

“It is high-risk when people come rushing on to the field fighting (players) over stumps," Rousseau said. “We understand that we have to protect the players."