by EZRA STUART

DIRECTOR OF SPORTS ERSKINE KING is to be sent on leave from the state-run National Sports Council (NSC).

The decision to send King on "vacation leave" was taken on Wednesdy night, at a meeting of the new NSC board, which is chaired by insurance executive Henry Inniss.

When contacted yesterday, Inniss said he was not yet in a position to make a comment but promised to do so when the matter was finalised.

However, a source close to the board and who asked not to be named made it clear that King, whose annual salary is $88 550, had not been sacked.

"He has accumulated over 200 days in vacation [215 days] over a number of years and it is just that he has been asked to take those days due to him. Taking vacation is compulsory in the public and private sector and it is not a situation which you would want to continue," the source told WEEKEND SPORT.

"But he has not been terminated even though some people have been saying it was on the cards and that this is a constructive dismissal," the source added.

King, a former sports editor of Starcom Network and Barbados wicketkeeper, took up the post in January, 1998, succeeding the late Alvin Burgess, who had been transferred to head the Rural Development Commission.

Yesterday he said he had been hearing the talk "for sometime".

Hearing rumour

"For the past eight to ten weeks, I've been hearing the rumour that next week would be my last but I'm still in the office at work. At this stage, I don't have anything before me which says I am on leave so I have to refer you to the chairman to make any comments," he said.

Acting deputy director Mona Alleyne is to act as director of sports when King, who was expected to receive a letter yesterday, goes on the enforced leave. The widely travelled King, who has attended a number of Olympic Games and other overseas assignments, is not due back until September or October.

WEEKEND SPORTS understands there will be a shake-up of other NSC personnel, either acting or appointed.

"We know who will go but we have not formulated the details," the source stated.

The position of superintendent of the National Stadium is to be advertised in the media shortly. Outstanding former West Indies fast bowler and president of the Barbados Cricket Association Joel Garner is acting in the position following the retirement of the long-serving Frank Gill.