Jamshedpur FC is learnt to have finalised Owen Columba Coyle, who steered Chennaiyin FC to the finals last season, as head coach for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL).
Sources in the JFC team management revealed that Coyle now just needs to sign on the dotted line before he comes onboard the Tata Steel-owned football franchise. The 54-year-old, a former Burnley and Bolton Wanderers manager, will replace Spaniard Antonio Iriondo as the head coach.
The Telegraph Online had reported in its June 29 edition that JFC was not keen to retain Iriondo.
JFC chief executive officer Mukul Choudhari confirmed that Coyle is one of the frontrunners to join the squad for the head coach position.
“We have shortlisted three names, and Coyle is one of them,” Choudhari told The Telegraph Online, adding they would announce the name of the new coach and the squad later this month.
A JFC official said the experiment with Spanish coaches Cesar Ferrando and Iriondo, who brought in the tiki-taka style, failed to deliver the expected results in the last two seasons of the cash-rich tournament. JFC under Englishman Steve Coppell showed promise and finished fifth but the outfit did not find a place in the play-offs.
“We have a huge fan following and good infrastructure in place. But our team has not been able to reach the play-offs. We are hopeful that Coyle would make a turnaround in our fortunes in the tournament,” a JFC official said on condition of anonymity. He added Coyle would join the squad on a two-year contract.
Coyle, a forward, who played for several English and Scotland clubs, including the Ireland national team, was a hero for Chennayin FC’s fans in the last season. Taking over a team who were stuck at the bottom with just five points and four goals in six matches under John Gregory, he managed to produce a winning unit by displaying faith in the capabilities of Indian recruits.
Chennai reached the finals where it lost to ATK, now ATK Mohun Bagan.
JFC sources said names of foreign players would be decided once Coyle takes over as head coach. Barring Spaniards Atroy Monroy and David Grande, contracts of five other international players have expired.
JFC had six Spanish players and a Brazilian in the team last season. In fact, the Spaniards, including skipper Tiri, were the fulcrum of the franchise which became part of the ISL in 2017.
JFC’s over-dependence on Spanish magic is expected to change after Coyle’s joining as head coach.