Dominican Gregory Shillingford has been given a cash settlement by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) following his last week, the Sun can reveal.

    The WICB issue the former chief executive officer a cheque on Friday as ex-gratia payment, made without prejudice on condition that Shillingford waves his rights to challenge the fairness of his termination in any court in Antigua and Barbuda or elsewhere, the Sun was told.

    The actual amount was not disclosed, but the Sun understands it's a US$ six-figure sum.

    Shillingford is reported to have been in discussion with Lake and Kentish, solicitors for the WICB over a two-day period late last week, working out details of the agreement, covering the disbursement of the ex-gratia payment.

    Shillingford who received for the fist time on Monday 30th September 2002, documentation of his appraisal conducted on July 13 2002, wrote the board members on the morning of Wednesday 2nd October 2002, indicating that the appraisal report presented by the president, Wes Hall to the board meeting of September 13th 2002, contained misrepresentations, and allegations to which he did not have an opportunity to adequately respond.

    While relaxing at his home in Antigua with his wife and son Shillingford told the Sun: "I am quite satisfied with the ex-gratia payment from my former employers."

    The less-than-cordial relationship between Shillingford and the current management of the WICB ended last week when the board abruptly fired him, two years to the day he took up the position, replacing the long-serving Steve Comacho.

    In a terse statement released late on Wednesday, the WICB announced: "The West Indies Cricket Board has terminated the services of Chief Executive Officer Gregory Shillingford with immediate effect."

    In the four-sentence statement, the Board suggested that the decision was based on non-performance.

    "The Board's decision to terminate the services of the CEO followed consideration of a report on his performance conducted by its Review and Assessment Committee, a review of the evaluation process, and comments from each board member," it said, adding that the decision was unanimous.

    Despite the statement, a very reliable source from within the WICB informed the Sun recently that there had been moves for several months to try to get Shillingford out. The source, who spoke on the usual condition of anonymity, said it was all part of a plan by the Wes Hall-led WICB to "Barbadianise" the WICB.

    These plans, according to the source, included relocating the WICB secretariat back to Barbados.

    Hall, a Barbadian, took over at the helm of the WICB after Jamaica Pat Rousseau and his second-in-command, Clavis Joseph, were forced to step down last June.

    It was Rousseau who hired Shillingford in October 2000.