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SACA split with Berry, Gillespie in the frame

Strikers close to deal to appoint Gillespie with Redbacks to launch global hunt for new coach as South Australia split the roles following Berry exit

South Australia have parted ways with Darren Berry after reaching an agreement to cut short the head coach's contract a year early and review their internal structure.

Test great and Adelaide hero Jason Gillespie is expected to be named coach of the Adelaide Strikers later this week with the South Australia Cricket Association confirming it will split duties between the KFC T20 Big Bash League franchise and the West End Redbacks.

While Gillespie is close to finalising negotiations over the Strikers role, a global search for a new Redbacks coach will be undertaken.

A triumvirate of Test legend Adam Gilchrist, Cricket Australia's Executive General Manager of Team Performance Pat Howard and former Australian Football League coach David Parkin will lead the hunt for the new Redbacks coach, alongside SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw and high performance manager Tim Nielsen.

Gillespie is understood to currently not be interested in the full-time role with the Redbacks and is committed to remaining in England where he is the head coach of county side Yorkshire, the reigning division one champions who have produced six players for England's Test squad that will tour the West Indies.

Bradshaw said a "fresh approach" was needed in South Australia after a string of disappointing results for the Redbacks and Strikers.

"While SACA and its Board recognise the strong performance by the Strikers this summer, our results across the past three seasons in all formats have not been at the standard expected of our elite teams," said Bradshaw.

Berry guided the West End Redbacks to the 2010-11 KFC Twenty20 Big Bash title – a precursor to the franchise-based BBL – and was then appointed full-time coach of South Australia in all formats.

The Redbacks won the 2011-12 Ryobi One-Day Cup and, in January 2014 with the Redbacks sitting top of the Bupa Sheffield Shield ladder and the Strikers performing strongly in BBL|03, Berry signed a two-year contract extension. However, a string of poor results since saw him him fall out of favour.

The Redbacks finished last in the Bupa Sheffield Shield in three out of the four seasons Berry was in charge. The Strikers put together an impressive season to finish top of the lader for BBL|04 but were knocked out in the semi-final in front of a packed Adelaide Oval crowd by the Sydney Sixers.

Berry took personal leave after that loss and was absent for five weeks, during which time the Redbacks sacked captain Johan Botha and appointed 22-year-old Travis Head to the role without consulting the coach.

"I want to recognise the contribution Darren has made in his time here; both parties have agreed though that now is the time to look for a new direction," Bradshaw added.

Amid reports of strained relationships with the Board and SACA's high performance unit lead by former Australia coach Nielsen, Berry accepted it was time for a new direction.

"An amicable separation has been reached in the best interests for all concerned; I accept that the SACA are heading in a new direction and wish the Association every success in the future," Berry said in a statement.

"It has been a privilege over the last four years to have had the opportunity provided to me by the SACA and for that I am grateful."