<p>The Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Tuesday said it has accepted Australian David John's resignation as the High Performance Director of Hockey India.</p>.<p>John resigned from his post on August 18 with immediate effect, citing health safety concerns due to the rising Covid-19 cases in India.</p>.<p>"He resigned citing concern for his personal health in the current Covid-19 situation in India, and has expressed his desire to go back to Australia," the SAI said.</p>.<p>However, according to sources, John resigned, within days of his contract being renewed by SAI, because of differences with the national federation's top brass.</p>.<p>Recently, John's contract was renewed by the SAI till September 2021 but the Australian preferred to resign and had complained about being sidelined by Hockey India for a long time.</p>.<p>"David was feeling frustrated for a long time after Hockey India had apparently sidelined him. He was being ignored from being a part of important team decisions by Hockey India top brass," a source close to the development had told PTI.</p>.<p>"David was no more involved in team decisions and was only occupied with taking online classes for coaches and players, a thing which didn't go down well with him.</p>.<p>"The five-month break because of the Covid-19 pandemic was the trigger for his decision," he added.</p>.<p>John was drawing a monthly salary of USD 12,000 in his current position and had been working from home in New Delhi since the start of the coronavirus lockdown in mid-March.</p>.<p>He was associated with Indian hockey since 2011, appointed at first as the men's team physio under chief coach Michael Nobbs.</p>.<p>Largely credited for improving the Indian teams' fitness levels, John left his job in 2012 after the London Olympics before returning in a larger position as High Performance Director in 2016.</p>
<p>The Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Tuesday said it has accepted Australian David John's resignation as the High Performance Director of Hockey India.</p>.<p>John resigned from his post on August 18 with immediate effect, citing health safety concerns due to the rising Covid-19 cases in India.</p>.<p>"He resigned citing concern for his personal health in the current Covid-19 situation in India, and has expressed his desire to go back to Australia," the SAI said.</p>.<p>However, according to sources, John resigned, within days of his contract being renewed by SAI, because of differences with the national federation's top brass.</p>.<p>Recently, John's contract was renewed by the SAI till September 2021 but the Australian preferred to resign and had complained about being sidelined by Hockey India for a long time.</p>.<p>"David was feeling frustrated for a long time after Hockey India had apparently sidelined him. He was being ignored from being a part of important team decisions by Hockey India top brass," a source close to the development had told PTI.</p>.<p>"David was no more involved in team decisions and was only occupied with taking online classes for coaches and players, a thing which didn't go down well with him.</p>.<p>"The five-month break because of the Covid-19 pandemic was the trigger for his decision," he added.</p>.<p>John was drawing a monthly salary of USD 12,000 in his current position and had been working from home in New Delhi since the start of the coronavirus lockdown in mid-March.</p>.<p>He was associated with Indian hockey since 2011, appointed at first as the men's team physio under chief coach Michael Nobbs.</p>.<p>Largely credited for improving the Indian teams' fitness levels, John left his job in 2012 after the London Olympics before returning in a larger position as High Performance Director in 2016.</p>