NOT guilty! That's what Liz Ford, wife of Graham Ford, said after hearing that her husband had turned down the opportunity of becoming India's next coach - considered one of the biggest and most lucrative jobs in world cricket.
"I'm as surprised as you are," she said from her home outside Durban late on Monday.
"I have not heard from Graham as he was in negotiations with Kent all day yesterday - you're the first to let me know of his decision."
When pressed if she had anything to do with her husband's surprise decision, she said: "I certainly did not have an input.
"We, as a family, go along with whatever decision he takes as he is the bread-winner of the family. We do not influence him at all.
"We certainly miss him when he's not at home and he certainly does as well, but at the end of the day, it was a decision he made after putting everything into perspective and we respect him for that."
Liz Ford is a former tennis star who played at provincial level and is now a full-time tennis coach.
Ford, who was one of two international coaches interviewed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in Chennai on Saturday, surprisingly turned down the toughest and most lucrative coaching jobs.
It is believed that the one-year contract is worth more than $2,5-million, so Ford must have good reasons for saying no.
He has decided to see out his contact with Kent, which runs until the 2008 English County Championship season, and is expected to assist the Dolphins in the South African summer.
"After careful consideration, I have decided to continue my work at Kent.
"This has been a really difficult decision. I am honoured that India have shown such interest in my capabilities, but feel that this is the right decision for me and my family," the 46-year-old Ford said in a statement posted on the Kent club website.
Midway through the 2006/2007 season, Ford, who was in his third stint with the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins, decided to leave the job for personal reasons. He did not want to elaborate on the details.
Meanwhile, Ali Bacher, the former managing director of the United Cricket Board, said at the weekend that Ford was reluctant to take on the South African job as well when it was first offered to him.
"He had come up to Johannesburg for the interview and we knew he was the right man for the job.
"We offered it to him. However he turned down the job at first," Bacher recalled of the incident.
"I then spoke to him about the importance of the job and of his ability to do it as the players believed he was the best at the time.
"It was only after that Graham decided to take up the position as South African coach," said Bacher.