Ford keen to lead Kent's revival

Former South Africa coach Ford turned down the India job last year

Kent coach Graham Ford has insisted he is committed to getting the club back into Division One of the Championship.

Ford, 57, has been widely linked with the vacant New Zealand job.

The South African told BBC Radio Kent the disappointments of this season, including relegation, have made him determined to remain at Canterbury.

"I'm firmly with Kent," he said. "I've had opportunities to go before and one certainly doesn't want to run away when things haven't gone at their best."

He added: "There's a lot of resolve and determination in the dressing room and it's a fantastic group of guys to work with.

"I know they'll be giving 120% to get back to First Division status."

We have to make sure that we get our four-day cricket back up to where it should be

Kent coach Graham Ford

Ford previously admitted he has held talks with New Zealand but nothing came of it.

He turned down a similar job with India last year to stay with Kent.

Meanwhile, Ford has said that Kent's desire for further one-day success may have contributed to their relegation in the County Championship.

The Spitfires, who won the Twenty20 Cup in 2007, made it to finals day once again this season, plus the final of the Friends Provident Trophy - but lost in both.

"Possibly over the last few years we focused a lot more of our preparations on one-day cricket and even our summer signings have been one-day cricket orientated.

"So we're really going to have to look at that and make sure that we get our four-day cricket back up to where it should be."