The KNCB has at last confirmed the appointment of Peter Drinnen as its new national coach.

In a statement released on Friday, the Bond announces that the 40-year-old Drinnen’s appointment will run from 1 January 2008 to April 2009, immediately after the qualifying tournament for the 2011 World Cup. Ensuring Dutch qualification is the new coach’s most important task, according to the press release.

News that Drinnen was likely to be the Bond’s choice had leaked out in early December, and chairman Marc Asselbergs confirmed at the general meeting held at that time that negotiations were in an advanced stage.

But the requirements of Dutch immigration law delayed the formal signing of the contract which took place this week. Australian Drinnen, the former coach of Scotland, is currently in The Netherlands for a five-day visit, and is having a series of meetings and conducting training sessions with members of the national squad.

Chairman Asselbergs is understandably delighted that the long process has been brought to a successful conclusion.

‘This is an important step towards the professionalisation of the Dutch national side,’ he says. ‘We won’t be letting a single day go unused on our way to the qualifying tournament in spring 2009’

Asselbergs adds that the KNCB was pleasantly surprised by the degree of interest in the post, and the high quality of many of the candidates.

‘That partly explains the fact that the appointment process has lasted a bit longer than we had originally intended,’ he notes.

Drinnen himself is naturally equally positive about his new job.

‘I have always been impressed with the commitment and energy of the team to the game,’ he says, which has been demonstrated by their success against other associates teams.

‘As with most smaller nations the remit is broader than just the National Team and I am certainly looking forward to working across all ages. There is an energy and optimism within the team and Board about the future and I am excited to be joining the KNCB at this time.’

The new coach attributes his past successes to discipline, commitment, passion and an eye for detail.

‘I’m a positive man,’ he adds, ‘who is able to motivate himself and who is keen both to set goals and to achieve them.

‘There is an energy and optimism within the team and Board about the future and I am excited to be joining the KNCB at this time. ’

The Netherlands and Scotland have played some interesting ODIs over the past couple of years: Drinnen’s Scots twice pulled off final-over victories at the 2006 European Championships and the 2007 World Cricket League tournament, but the Dutch had a convincing win in the World Cup, and then reduced Scotland to 71 for five in the quadrangular tournament in Ireland before rain led to the abandonment of the game.

And Drinnen will be keenly aware of the resources available to him, having seen what was largely an A side overwhelmed by a strong Scotland team in the Intercontinental Cup in August.

There are many challenges ahead, but Drinnen’s record suggests that he will give his charges every chance of getting themselves to the next World Cup.