BFC in the dark on Westwood coach talks

Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood is widely expected to be appointed as coach of the men’s national football team. But the club has said that they haven’t received any formal approach from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) yet.

“We are just reading stuff that is being printed in the papers to be honest,” Mandar Tamhare, Chief Technical Officier of BFC, told Deccan Herald. “They (AIFF) are yet to approach (us) with a view to wanting Ashley to coach the national team.”

The AIFF’s Technical committee, headed by former Indian skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, will meet in Mumbai on Sunday to pick the new coach of the national team.  

Contrary to media reports, the Englishman’s contract with BFC ends only in May 2016 and the I-League champions will be eligible for a compensation from the AIFF if they do appoint Westwood but Tamhare refused to go into details. “For the time being most of it is just speculation and we haven’t even thought about it. If it happens then there will obviously be a process and we will sit down with all the parties.”

Tamhare, who has peviously been a manager of the national team, further mentioned that the club has not even started talking about a replacement if Westwood leaves.  “We honestly haven’t thought about that. But if he does leave, then we will sit down and have a talk.” Westwood may yet leave without AIFF paying any compensation if there is a clause in his existing contract which allows the 38-year-old to walk away.