Continuing its hire and fire policy, the Indian Hockey Federation sacked national coach Vasudevan Baskaran following an unending streak of dismal performances and handed the post to another Olympian Joaquim Carvalho.
According to IHF sources, Carvalho's appointment will be followed by more tough policy measures to overhaul the "dysfunctional system".
"IHF chief K P S Gill had time and again made it clear that a change in the coaches could be expected after the World Cup and Doha Asian Games, the sources said.
"There are going to be changes in the system. The announcements will be made next week at a press conference," they said.
The changes would incorporate proposals of the Federation Internationale de Hockey (FIH), the world body for the sport, to bring back the glorious past of Indian hockey.
The Indian hockey team recorded its worst ever performance in Asian Games when it finished fifth, returning from Doha without a medal for the first time at the event after a shock defeat to China.
Before the Doha debacle, India had finished a humiliating 11th in the World Cup.
"We will have technical advisers and administrative managers for senior and junior teams. Like the coaches, these personnel will have separate responsibilities and become accountable," the sources said.
Sources said IHF considered the names of Harendra Singh, the deputy coach, Carvalho, and A K Bansal, who coached Orissa Steelers to victory in the PHL this year.
The changes became necessary following a strained relationship between Bhaskaran and his deputy, Harendra, and after latter staked claim to be the chief coach of the national team. Harinder was also removed from his post.
This is the fourth time that Bhaskaran has been axed as the coach of the national team.
Meanwhile, the IHF has decided to have Olympians M M Sommaya as technical director and Mervyn Fernandis as technical adviser of the senior and junior teams respectively. It also decided to appoint R S Shetty of Bangalore as the administrative manager.
Besides these three, former coach R Parameswaran of Bangalore will administer the junior and developmental teams.
Mohinder Pal Singh, who has been abreast with the latest developments in world hockey, will be Carvalho's deputy.
More importantly, there will be constant interaction amongst the coaches, technical director and administrators for better coordination, which was not existent in the past, sources said.
Both Bhaskaran and Carvalho refused to comment on the changes.
"I have no official information on my being stripped of the job and so I have no comments to make," said Bhaskaran.
"Going by the media report, I can definitely say that the federation is going five years backwards and it will take lot more time for a new coach to analyse and implement changes," he said.
When contacted, Carvalho said, "I am not aware of my appointment. I shall comment after an official communication on this to me by the IHF."
Bhaskaran however scotched speculation that there was any misunderstanding with Harendra.
"I can definitely say that Harendra and myself never had any difference of opinions. We had worked together. Perhaps, Harendra wanted a separate indentity."
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