ROBERT Haynes is set to formalise his appointment as interim head coach of Jamaica Scorpions cricket team during a meeting with franchise stakeholders today at Sabina Park in Kingston.

Haynes replaces Robert Samuels, who has parted ways with the Scorpions after the latter’s contract — set to expire December 31, 2018 — was not renewed.

“Come tomorrow morning, which is December 27, the original schedule for team practice will resume, so the players are due at Sabina Park. Robert Haynes is to come in and meet with us and also with the players,” Courtney Francis, the chief executive officer of the Scorpions franchise, told the Jamaica Observer during an interview yesterday.

When contacted by the Observer, Haynes confirmed he will be meeting the franchise CEO, but declined to comment further.

Haynes, a former Jamaica leg spinner, was most recently in charge of the national Under-19 team, and previously was coach of the senior side. He has also served as a West Indies selector.

His initial competitive test is due to begin on January 4 when the Jamaica franchise welcome Windward Islands Volcanoes to Sabina Park — in a day/night encounter — in the West Indies four-day tournament. It is the first of nine remaining matches for the Scorpions this season.

The Scorpions (five points) and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (4.4 points) — who have both played only one game each — occupy the respective fifth and last places in the six-team league standing. All other teams have played twice.

Defending four-time champions Guyana Jaguars lead the pack with 37 points, followed by Barbados Pride (22.6), Leeward Islands Hurricanes (22.2) and Windward Islands Volcanoes (21.6).

Francis, while noting that the interim post is likely to last for the remainder of this season, said the Scorpions’ board of directors wants to implement measures that help to improve team performances.

“Things will not remain as they were, and we intend to shake it up a little so we can get better results,” Francis, also the Jamaica Cricket Association CEO, said.

He added: “It is an interim position… the employment process has to take effect to get a permanent position. That process will include having people apply for the position. As soon as the process is completed, we’ll keep the public abreast [regarding the permanent appointment].

Francis pointed out that the coach appointed to lead the Scorpions next season will be given the opportunity to be a part of the selection process.

“Robert Haynes is inheriting players that he did not engage because these contracted players were engaged by Robert Samuels. When the next draft period comes around the coach in place for next year ought to be among the people who sit down and help to determine who those 15 contracted players will be,” he told the Observer.

Samuels’ last duty came in the stunning loss away to Barbados Pride earlier this month in the four-day tournament.

He was already under fire before that defeat inside three days — the Scorpions’ opening game of the season.

Aside from talk that he and some prominent players did not get along during his tenure, Samuels, the former West Indies and Jamaica left-hand batsman, failed to lift either the regional four-day or 50-over title since his appointment as coach in late 2016.

Three seasons ago, the Scorpions did well to reach the Super50 final before losing to the Pride, but flopped in consecutive tournaments that followed. Their best finish in the four-day format in that time was fourth — accomplished last season.

Those performances are a long way off the achievements of the Jamaica teams that won five-straight four-day championships between 2008 and 2012 when Junior Bennett, now chairman of selectors, was the man at the helm.

The Jamaica side, which transitioned out several integral, senior players in recent years, has endured a title drought since 2012, and Bennett left the post at the end of 2014-15 season.