AUSTRALIA coach Darren Lehmann has hit back at Michael Clarke over claims he demands too much power and control of the national team.

The fallout from Clarke’s controversial book continued when Lehmann vehemently denied he was a powermonger who dominates the Australian set-up.

Clarke used his memoir to detail clashes with Simon Katich and Andrew Symonds and the erosion of the captain’s authority following Lehmann’s appointment for the 2013 Ashes series.

The former Test skipper insisted he had no personal issue with Lehmann, but disagreed with his leadership responsibilities being scaled back during Lehmann’s reign.

Lehmann’s success in steering the national team to the No.1 ranking was rewarded in August when he was handed a contract extension by Cricket Australia until 2019.

Clarke accused Lehmann of wanting the “power to shake things up and run the team his way,” but the Australian coach scuppered suggestions he wields too much authority.

“No, I don’t think that is the case as such,” Lehmann said as he prepares for next week’s first Test against South Africa.

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“I always worked really close with ‘Pup’ (Clarke) and Steven (Smith, current skipper).

“At the end of the day, they are the ones in the heat of the battle out there.

“They have to have exactly what they want and need, that’s all we do as support staff - make sure they get exactly what they want and need.

“As for power ... I don’t think that is the case at all, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.”

Once close friends, Clarke and Symonds no longer speak, while Katich denied on ABC radio last weekend that he and Clarke had smoked the peace-pipe following their SCG bust-up in 2009.

Lehmann insists there is no bad blood between himself and his former Test skipper, but said he couldn’t speak for other members of the Australian team.

Asked about his relationship with Clarke today, Lehmann said: “It’s still good, I get on with him fine.

“The relationships between him and other people, that’s between him and other people, they have got to sort that out.

“All I try to do is prepare the players more and be a sounding board, you can’t make decision out on the ground because that is the captain’s role.

“All you can do is try to give them as much information off the ground as you possibly can and away they go and the captain runs the ship.

“That’s how it’s always been when I played and is now.”

In his book, Clarke’s view is clearly at odds with that of Lehmann, claiming the former Queensland coach makes it clear he wants to be the top dog.

“Nothing would happen in the team without the captain having the final call,” Clarke writes.

“Now it is different. Darren Lehmann is coming from a system in Queensland where the coach runs the show. And that is what he demands when he takes the Australian job.

“Boof has stipulated that if he is to become head coach, he wants the power to shake things up and run the team his way.

“This means a further scaling down of the captain’s role. I was not expecting to be moved down the food chain, halfway through my captaincy.

“None of my grievance is personal. I always liked Boof. We have a good honest relationship with each other and even though we will have some tough conversations in late 2014, I have unwavering respect for him as a person and a cricketer.

“One thing is for sure: I am no longer driving the bus.”