New Zealand Cricket's chief executive, Chris Doig, said he was hopeful BIL would continue to back the High Performance Centre and Academy at Lincoln University.

However, if the situation changed it would not jeopardise the running of the centre and support would be sought elsewhere.

Doig said he had spoken to Brierley's sponsorship manager in light of the company's recent problems.

``No decisions are being made at the moment until a chief executive is appointed. But we are cautiously hopeful there will not be any change.''

BIL is in the second year of a $900,000 commitment over three years to the centre and academy.

``We have a pretty good relationship with them and some BIL members are on the board of the academy.''

``We are happy with progress so far, but the company's philosophy could change, I suppose.''

BIL has sponsorship dollars also committed in other areas of New Zealand sport, notably the New Zealand Sports Foundation, which is also having to adopt a watching brief.