Interview by Jamie Lillywhite

Moles will be hoping for less controversy at Scotland

Scotland coach Andy Moles has revealed how abusive phone calls prompted him to give up his previous job in charge of the Kenyan national team.

He resigned earlier this year after a series of financial problems, which led to walk-outs by senior players, left Kenyan cricket in turmoil.

"I had a difficult time with threats and anonymous messages left on my phone," he told BBC Sport.

"I've moved on. I'm now working with a very professional organisation."

While working in Kenya, preparation for matches was often chaotic.

"It used to happen regularly, players wanted extra pay or better conditions and threatened to strike the day before a tournament or the day before they were getting on a plane," he said.

"I can understand there were certain issues with money they were owed and I can sympathise with that, but not with anybody who would go on strike before playing for their country.

"There's got to be other avenues to explore without holding the cricketing body to ransom."

Kenya hit the headlines at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, where they defeated Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe before losing to India in the semi-finals.

However, Moles believes the tournament had a negative effect and led to the disintegration of the cricketing structure in the country.

"They were very talented cricketers but when they qualified for the semi-finals, one or two got a little bit too big for the game in terms of attitude, and didn't work as hard as they should have done.

Moles feels the Kenyan team collapsed after the 2003 World Cup

"They all thought they were at a higher standard than they actually were, some believed they were the fourth best side in the world and sadly they were not.

"They played some fantastic cricket, and with more fixtures and more exposure I'm sure they would have improved, but unfortunately for various reasons, Kenyan cricket stalled."

Internal politics was part of the reason for the mess, according to Moles.

"The Kenyan Cricket Association did have their problems but were doing their very best to move forward.

"But the Coastal Cricket Association and the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association wanted more control," he said.

"They must all take a share of the blame.

"It would be nice if they could have people from all three associations running the cricket together but all three are damaging the progress of the sport through internal politics."

They were a talented bunch but there were too many circumstances, there was always something up and they were never focused on the game itself

Difficulties with senior players, meanwhile, continued to be a problem for Moles throughout his time in charge.

"The players would not take on a team culture, they weren't prepared to explore new training techniques, as every other side in the world does, and their time keeping wasn't very good.

"The game doesn't stand still, we're all looking to move forward, but they were hesitant on new ideas and wanted regimented nets - the easy option.

"There are some wonderful young cricketers who worked very hard on their game, for no reward, who took time off work and college.

"They're the ones I feel sorry for, I don't feel sorry for the senior players, they brought it on themselves."

Moles has few regrets about leaving Kenya behind to become Scotland's full-time coach, with the main goal of helping them try to qualify for the 2007 World Cup.

So how does he rate Scotland's players after such a short time in charge?