Kottan issue hanging
The possible appointment of George Kottan as the head coach of the Bangladesh national team is seemingly hanging in the balance after the 70-year-old Austrian demanded high salary from the game's governing body.
Kottan, who guided Bangladesh to their maiden SAFF Championship title in 2003, was offered the head coach's position for a ten-month period recently. However, the veteran coach, who guided Abahani to Federation Cup and Bangladesh Premier League titles last season, has demanded three times more than what he received from Abahani, according to a source inside the BFF.
Kottan, reportedly offered 10,000 dollars per month, was supposed to inform about his decision within three days after the National Teams Committee meeting on January 16, but the Austrian has yet to reply.
“We decided to appoint him as he knows Bangladesh football and the players pretty well. Besides we also know how much salary he drew from Abahani. But he has demanded too much compared to BFF's offer,” said the source on condition of anonymity.
The veteran coach, through an online conversation with a journalist, claimed that he demanded 25,000 dollars for six-member coaching staff -- head coach, assistant coach, fitness coach, goalkeeping coach, team doctor and a masseur.
“I think the amount I demanded for six persons is not that big and any football federation in the world must bear such expense for good results but they [BFF] didn't agree,” Kottan said. “I have closed the chapter three days ago and have set a year-long programme with FIFA.”
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