Walsh may sign new contract today
NEW DELHI: Australian hockey expert Terry Walsh is expected to continue to train the national squad in the near future. The sixmember panel nominated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) discussed at length the new proposals sent by Walsh on Monday, but will only make it public after approval by the sports minister. “The minister would take a final decision tomorrow,” said a SAI official.
Walsh’s one-year contract expires on Wednesday, and he had sent his resignation to SAI on October 19. If all goes as per plan, he should sign a new contract on Tuesday, and oversee the national team’s preparation for the Champions Trophy to be held in Bhubaneswar from Dec 6-14.
After a marathon session, which lasted over six hours, Ajitpal Singh, chairman of the panel, said, the meeting had been inconclusive. “We need more time for discussions,” he said. The panel had met on Friday as well, but wanted more time. Even Walsh refused to throw light on the meeting, but indicated the discussions were on the right track. SAI sources said, Walsh’s request for 120-day paid leave was the most debatable issue of the meeting on Monday, “but by the end of the day things were sorted out”.
The SAI official said that, “Walsh’s overall performance had been good; the national team had won gold at the Asian Games… he would get enhanced salary.”