Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) Englishman Bob Houghton resigned as India’s chief football coach Monday following his differences with All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary general Alberto Colaco.

But AIFF president Praful Patel has asked Houghton, whose contract runs till January 31, to reconsider his decision and continue as the India coach till the Asian Cup in Doha January 7-29.

Speaking to IANS from Cape Town, Houghton said: “Yes, I have resigned. But it is a more complicated issue.”

A top AIFF official told IANS that differences between Houghton and Colaco reached the flash point when the secretary general during his visit to Malaysia for an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) meetinglast month, met a top agent and asked him to look for a replacement for Houghton.

“There were lot of problems between them over India’s preparations for the Asian Cup, but still Houghton was willing to extend his contract after the mega event and had even informed Colaco about it on April 5. But when Houghton heard that Colaco had asked the agent to look for a new coach, he was furious and resigned Monday through an e-mail, giving a notice of three months,” the official said.

AIFF president Patel, however, told IANS that the coach had not resigned. “He has not resigned and will stay,” said Patel.

But a source close to Patel said: “Patel had convinced Houghton to stay on. Patel requested him to put all the differences aside and continue as the India coach. Patel told Houghton that such a decision cannot be taken through e-mail and asked him to come to India and sort out all the differences face to face and start afresh.”

AIFF top brass is unhappy with Colaco and will demand an explanation from him for his unwarranted action.

“Colaco has done nothing for the Indian team’s preparation. Houghton has been asking him to organise international friendlies and a practice ground for the national team. But Colaco has done nothing so far. Even the players’ contract for the Asian Cup hasn’t been done. With less than a year left for the tournament, who should be blamed for all these issues, Colaco or Houghton?” a top official said.