KENT'S director of cricket Graham Ford has described the ECB decision not to replay their LV Championship match with Worcestershire as a "massive shock".

Ford, the former coach to South Africa who earlier this summer turned down an opportunity to manage the India Test squad, has also backed the county club's decision to consider legal action, going so far as to say that, to his mind, legal redress is "a must".

Clearly angered by the drawn-out process of decision-making as well as the verdict itself, Ford blasted: "We feel severely let down and really surprised by this outcome.

"We have felt helpless throughout and at no stage did we expect this result. We've felt like victims of a situation on which we've had no influence.

"The decision was made to play this re-scheduled match at New Road, yet now other fixtures involving Worcestershire will be played elsewhere. It doesn't seem fair and, as decision-making goes, lacks consistency.

"I'm pleased the club are taking this so seriously, personally I think further action is a must. It has to happen."

Describing the reaction of Kent's players to the unrest caused by the initial abandonment of the fixture, then the two-week delay in resolving a potential replay or award of compensatory points, Ford added: "There has been a certain amount of distraction throughout all of this.

"Though replaying the match meant us giving up five possible days of rest, the players realised this was something they had to do. They had set their minds to get out there, get stuck in and replay it."

Ford added: "There has been a distraction in our focus and it's only natural that there has been discussion amongst the players. I'm pleased to say that as soon as the lads have stepped over the ropes they've shown a great deal of focus toward the game of cricket in hand, and hats off to them for their mature approach.

"But there has been a huge amount of shock to this eventual decision. There's no way in their wildest dreams the players felt they would be penalised for something that they had no say in whatsoever.

"It's like being found guilty of a crime when you know you're innocent and the dressing room is stunned."