A little over a week after Chima Okerie stepped down as Mohun Bagan coach in a huff, the club's administration has now handed over the reins to assistant coach Bernard, at least for the time being. And giving interim coaching boss Bernard company will be what is being called managerial assistants, in the form of Bhaichung Bhutia and Jose Ramirez Barreto.
Even as Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra formally announced the new policy of appointing the three-member coaching staff, rumours have been doing the rounds that the move to officially make Bhutia and Barreto members of the coaching staff could further boost their clout in team management and policies.
Interim coach Bernard, flanked by the stalwart duo, will be at the helm of the team for six National Football League (NFL) matches and three AFC Cup encounters, while Mitra assured a full-time replacement for Okerie will be appointed "by next year".
The coach issue apart, Mitra announced a spree of demands, most of them turned down by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which the club wants met by next year.
The most prominent one has been the demand for the club's share of the gate revenue generated from the NFL matches. "For two years, the club hasn't been getting it's share of the gate sales, despite repeated requests made to the AIFF," Mitra said.
Mohun Bagan is also eyeing to regularly host matches of the NFL from next season onwards, although the club is yet to formally make a request with the Federation. "We are building a proper gym, a separate dressing room and full-fledged media room, which are the criteria for getting the approval to host NFL matches," the Bagan secretary claimed.
The Mohun Bagan officials are meanwhile upbeat about Fifa president Sepp Blatter's scheduled visit to the club premises on the morning of April 15.
Sikkim Served Fresh Daily
