ENGLAND'S build-up to the crucial Headingley Test was marred today by a report that Peter Lever was on the brink of quitting as the side's bowling coach.

Lever was said to be upset about David Lloyd's innovative ideas to lift team spirit - such as rock music in the dressing-room - and he admitted: "I will be speaking to Ray Illingworth after today's practice nets."

But Lever refused to confirm or deny whether he would be resigning, 14 months after being brought in by Illingworth to help England's bowlers, particularly Devon Malcolm.

Disharmony in the camp is the last thing Lloyd needed today as he launched the 48 hours warm-up to the Leeds Test. And he was genuinely surprised by the news about Lever.

"I don't know anything about it," he said. "He has not said anything to me and we have not crossed swords in any way."

The two were Lancashire team-mates for a long while, but Lever quit in 1976 after suffering back trouble and while Lloyd was captain.

Later Lever had a spell as Lancashire coach, but was sacked in 1986. Illy enrolled him in the England set-up last summer, and he stayed when Lloyd was appointed coach in April.

Lloyd is hoping for a two-years contract starting with the winter tours of Zimbabwe and New Zealand, but Lever's long-term future depends not just on today's meeting with Illy, but also on the new England set-up to be put in place under the Acfield Working Party report.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.