The Sports Authority of India on Wednesday met India's unhappy hockey coach Terry Walsh to try and sort out issues that led to him submitting his resignation, and SAI Director General Jiji Thomson says things have moved in the positive direction, and though Walsh has not withdrawn his resignation yet, he will be offered a new contract before November 19th.
Walsh had resigned from his post of chief coach of India's men's hockey team on Tuesday, which led to shock and surprise among the hockey fraternity. Besides the "sporting bureaucracy" that Walsh reasoned his resignation on, reports in the media suggested he wasn't happy with his salary and tax deduction. However, Thomson refuted those resports.
"Today, we had a lengthy, free and frank discussion with Mr Terry Walsh, the Chief Coach of Indian Men's Hockey Team, who has submitted his resignation on 19th October, 2014," Thomson said in an official statement. "During the discussion, he made it very clear that he has no problems with regard to the tax deduction or remuneration. His major concern was about the lack of functional autonomy in deciding the technical matters relating to hockey.
Thomson further said that Walsh wants more freedom in taking decision, along with Hockey India's High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans.
"He [Walsh] was of the view that he, along with the High Performance Director, need to be given more freedom in the decision making process. From SAI side, we have absolutely no issues on this. This is a matter that needs to be discussed with Hockey India.
A meeting of all the concerned parties will be conducted soon to arrive at an amicabel solution.
"We intend to convene a meeting shortly under the Chairmanship of the Hon'ble Minister(i/c), Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs & Sports, wherein, SAI, Ministry of Sports, Hockey India and Mr Terry Walsh for thrashing out this issue," Thomson said.
Walsh, Thomson added, was also not happy with the number of holidays in his contract, which the SAI DG said can be taken care of.
"Another issue raised by Mr Terry Walsh was about the number of holidays he is entitled to. Again, this is an issue that could be sorted out and we have expressed our readiness to reconsider the holiday package."
"We have also requested Mr Terry Walsh to help us in preparing a long-term athlete development plan for hockey. He has readily expressed his willingness to get the best experts available and prepare this plan," the SAI press release further read.
Thomson ended his statement saying that though Walsh has not withdrawn his resignation yet, he will be offered new contract before November 19.
"Mr Terry Walsh has not withdrawn his resignation. As per the contract, he has to give one-month notice for resignation. Since the resignation will officially come into effect from 19th November, 2014, it was decided that the contract will be renewed before 19th November, incorporating these clauses.
"Mr Terry Walsh expressed his satisfaction and appreciation for the steps taken by the Ministry of Sports & SAI and assured his continued support for Indian Hockey."
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