Darren Lehmann is in limbo at Brisbane Heat despite leading the club to two finals victories in BBL 10 and a top four finish.
Foxsports.com.au understands Lehmann, whose two-year deal expires in June, is in the dark whether he will be offered a new contract.
And the delay could prove costly for the Heat should they eventually decide to commit to the former Australian batsman, with the Melbourne Renegades hunting for an experienced replacement for Michael Klinger rather than a rookie coach.
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Lehmann has overseen 14 wins and 17 losses across his tenure and played a significant role in getting AB de Villiers to the franchise and convincing Morne Morkel to sign as a local player.
They finished second-last in BBL 09 – even with a de Villiers’ brief cameo – but made a late run in January, recovering from a 0-3 start to upset the Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder in consecutive knockout matches.
They were eventually bundled out by the Perth Scorchers.
Foxsports.com.au contacted Lehmann for comment on Monday evening and aside from confirming he was keen to continue as Heat coach, elected not to elaborate.
The uncertainty around Lehmann’s position comes as the external review into Brisbane Heat’s male and female programs reaches a conclusion.
It’s understood the ‘health check’ as Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson referred to it, will be handed back to the state body within a fortnight or so.
Sources were adamant the external review was not commissioned to reach a predetermined outcome, such as sacking Lehmann or captain Chris Lynn.
Lehmann remains involved in player acquisition and signings, though high performance boss Bennett King is also taking a leading role given the 51-year-old’s precarious contractual situation.
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The external review is being conducted by Eugenie Buckley of Suiko Consulting Company and is the first commissioned in the club’s 10-year history.
It’s understood women’s coach Ashley Noffke is safe, having agreed to terms for next summer and leading the team to a third placed finish in the most recent WBBL campaign.
In other BBL news, the Melbourne Renegades have all but locked in Nic Maddinson for BBL 11 in a swift cross-town swoop.
Though Maddinson is not permitted to sign with the Renegades until Cricket Australia’s lockout period concludes, sources confirmed he has verbally agreed to make the switch.
Barring a last-minute change of heart, he will play alongside young guns Jake Fraser McGurk and Mackenzie Harvey, who were both linked to the Melbourne Stars but will be staying in red on short-term deals.
Who they will be coached by remains a mystery, but industry sources are convinced it will be a tried and tested candidate, which seemingly rules out Cameron White and Brad Hodge.
White was Jason Gillespie’s assistant at the Strikers in BBL 10, while Hodge applied for the role two seasons ago but missed out.
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David Saker, Trevor Bayliss and even Lehmann himself are on the Renegades’ radar as they hunt for Klinger’s successor following back-to-back wooden spoons for the club.
Also uncertain is leg-spinner Peter Hatzoglou’s future. As a replacement player, the cult sensation is free to move to a club of his choice for BBL 11. There have been suggestions of interest from the Perth Scorchers, who already have Fawad Ahmed on their books, while he currently plays club cricket in Adelaide which could attract Gillespie’s watchful eye.
At the Sydney Sixers, Moises Henriques has penned a two-year extension, the club announced on Tuesday morning.
The batting all-rounder was one of seven players who lifted the trophy in BBL 10 that was named in the club’s team of the decade this week.