Walsh set to be men's hockey team coach

Australian Terry Walsh is set to be appointed as head coach of the Indian men’s hockey team after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) recommended his name to the Sports Ministry. 

SAI Director General Jiji Thomson told PTI here on Monday that Walsh’s name has been forwarded to the Sports Ministry and his appointment will be cleared in a week’s time.

Thomson said the SAI has recommended a monthly salary of Australian dollars 12,000 for Walsh, who was a part of Australia’s silver-winning team in 1976 Montreal Olympics.

“Walsh’s name has been recommended to the Sports Ministry by SAI. His CV impressed us the most. We have fixed his remuneration at Aus Dollar 12,000. It’s now up to the Ministry to take a call on his appointment. Maybe, in a week’s time, his appointment would be cleared,” Thomson said.

“Nobbs was getting Aus Dollar 11,000 and Walsh has been offered a thousand more than him,” he added.

Former Australia and Holland coach Walsh was the front-runner for the top job but there were indications earlier that Oltmans, who was the interim coach after Australian Nobbs resigned in July, would be made the permanent coach.

However, the SAI DG said Oltmans will continue to discharge his duty as the High Performance Director.

“Oltmans will remain the High Performance Director,” said Thomson.