Dibrugarh, July 5: The camps and exposure trips have been slotted. But with barely four months to go for the National Games, the Assam Football Association is in a spot. It has no permanent coach to train the state contingent.

Sources said Gautam Sarkar, who has in the past coached Calcutta giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, has opted out of the coaching assignment, making it difficult for the AFA to conduct the final camp for the Games.

AFA general secretary Ankur Dutta, however, asserted that Sarkar would join the squad at a later stage of the final preparatory camp.

This is in sharp contrast to what the coach had to say.

Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph from Calcutta, Sarkar confirmed that he had indeed opted out of the AFA.

“I have intimated the AFA in writing. My coaching assignment with the Assam team in the run-up to the National Games is over,” he said.

Sarkar cited his engagements with some teams in Calcutta as the reason behind his decision.

He said he would not be able to devote sufficient time to the Assam team and had thus quit in time to allow the AFA to find his replacement.

Dutta, however, confirmed that the association was looking for another “national-level coach” who would be responsible not only for the final camp but also for guiding players during the mega event.

“We have planned the final selection camp in August which will be followed by exposure trips to Calcutta for the men’s team and to Manipur for the women’s team in September. There will be a short camp after they return from the exposure trips,” Dutta said.

Petroleum giants Oil India Limited will sponsor both the the men’s and women’s teams for the Games at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.

Sarkar had earlier conducted a preparatory camp at Moran, assisted by NIS coach Pradip Brahma and former state footballer Arun Borthakur.