Kolkata: Two things East Bengal could have done to arrest their disappointing campaign this term — one in which they finished fourth — was to undergo a complete overhaul or appointment someone who could bring spring back to the tent in Maidan. They chose the latter and have roped in former club legend Subash Bhowmick.
Bhowmick though unfortunately does not hold the ‘A’ license necessary to become a ISL/I-League coach. But will become the team’s technical director — a role wherein he led Churchill Brothers to their second league title in 2012-13.
“We are keeping faith in Khalid as coach until the end of the season. But Bhowmick will be associated with the team as joint coach,” said Kalyan Majumdar, secretary at the club .
Former East Bengal player, Bhowmick also remains the 97 year-old club’s most successful coach having led them to successive National Football League (predecessor of I-League) titles in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
But despite leaving the team midway during the 2009-10 season following a string of poor results and he being accused of bribery, Bhombal daa (as he is called in Maidan) has still manger to be in a good relation with the club and have accepted the offer.
“I plan have a brainstorming session with coach Khalid, manager Manoranjan Bhattacharya and a few senior players to decide on the best way froward for the team,” said Bhowmick as quoted by TOI talking of his first step.
Whether Jamil and Bhattacharya still remain after such a horrendous season still reimsbto be seen. “We will inform the rearrangement in our coaching set-up to both coaches,” said Majumdar after the club’s executive committee meeting.
“But Jamil can only continue if he acceptes the re-arrengement in our coaching set-up,” he added.
As for Bhattacharya, he after submitting the seasonal report on the team’s performance refused to continue in the same capacity during the Super Cup.
Mohun Bagan’s top officials step-down
Just days after Bagan finished third in the I-League 2017-18, top officials Debashish Dutta and Srinjoy Bose stepped down from their posts at the club alleging of non-cooperation from secretary Anjan Mitra.
“This is not an overnight decision. We have been thinking about it for about four years now. We have not found a solution and the situation has worsened. No one is indispensable,” Bose told reporters sitting at the Calcutta Sports Journalists club on Monday.
Things certainly don’t look be well among the officials at the centre old club. And while both Bose and Dutta alleged of non-cooperation from Mitra, the secretary himself refused to comment on the issue.
“I will only react after discussing with the executive committee members,” said Mitra.