The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has ahot down reports going viral about the supposed appointment of Chris Hughton as the next Black Stars coach.
Christ Hughton has been at the forefront of the possible suitors for the Black Stars job ahead of Otto Addo who according to report is the GFAs favorite.
Hughton according to reports has the backing of the ministry for sports who are responsible for the payment of salaries of every Black Stars coach.
Reacting to rumors that they have appointed Chris Hughton, the GFA has issued a statement stating that they haven’t met the Irish-born Ghanaian coach to discuss any appointment.
In an interview on Accra based Joy FM, Henry Asante Twum, the Communications Director of the GFA said the Association is still searching for a competent coach to lead the Black Stars.
“My last conversation with the [GFA] President was that the talks [with Otto Addo] have been positive, but it comes with certain conditions as well. Yes, the FA appoints, but government takes care of the expenses and what have you, so you need to come back and engage government and see if you would be at par in terms of decision making. From then you can progress”, he said.
“I don’t know about any such decision [regarding Chris Houghton’s appointment]. As far as I’m concerned, we haven’t met the Ministry. I know that we are stakeholders in development. The government is recognised in providing infrastructure and providing funds for the development of football, but as technocrats, we are responsible for the decision making. These are things we read in the media everyday.”
“You wake up to stories in the press that government is trying to impose a coach on the FA. I don’t remember sitting in any such meeting since our last meeting with the honourable Minister of Sports, which called for the dismissal of the technical team and also the dismissal of the management committee. That has been our last engagement as a body,” he explained.
“I cannot say he [Chris Houghton] is not on the table because once a job becomes vacant, it’s open to all. Personally I’ve received 17 calls from agents and representatives of coaches.”
“My WhatsApp platform has been bombarded with messages from unknown people and then also the official email address of the FA has as well received loads of messages and they come in on a daily basis. So once a job becomes vacant, there are a number of people who’d express interest in coming in. So I cannot say Chris is not on the table. He is a coach who’s available, and who may be would like to come in as the next coach of the Black Stars,” he stated.