Asaase Sports understands that former Newcastle and Norwich City manager Chris Hughton has not agreed to serve as Technical Advisor to the Black Stars.
GFA statement.
On Wednesday, the Ghana Football Association announced a new structure for the Black Stars technical team. The statement indicated that the GFA had appointed Chris Hughton as its ”technical advisor to the newly constituted Black Stars technical team”. The technical team would be headed by Borussia Dortmund scout Otto Addo, with Didi Dramani and George Boateng serving as assistants.
However, sources close to Chris Hughton have told Asaase Sports there is as of yet no firm agreement in place. The parties are still in discussions on this and a statement is expected this week on that.
GFA talks with Hughton.
The GFA has held talks with Chris Hughton over the possibility of taking up the vacant Black Stars coaching job. The talks have been led by the GFA, Kurt Okraku, and Vice President Mark Addo.
Sources say although Hughton has agreed to offer technical support to the technical team for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Qualifying Play-off tie versus Nigeria, the GFA has also committed to negotiating with him to take on the head coach job after the March playoffs.
But, with both sides sensitive about his role in an interim structure which has two people at the top but very much his junior in coaching, arrangements were made for Otto Addo to hold discussions with Chris Hughton to find a comfortable formula. The two, according to GFA sources are meeting today in London, where Otto Addo has traveled from Dortmund to meet the former Brighton coach and also George Boateng of Aston Villa.
The nature of this ”technical support” is expected to be properly determined after Hughton’s meeting with Otto Addo today.
Even though the GFA recognizes that with his vast experience as head coach in the English Premier League, Chris Hughton towers above the other candidates, they considered his lack of familiarity with the national team a little too tricky for the World Cup two qualifiers against Nigeria. The technical team will have only three days with the players before the first game scheduled for March 22 in Cape Coast.
However, sources close to Wednesday’s GFA meeting are confident that Chris Hughton will be given the job as head coach after the playoffs, whether the Stars qualify or not.
Asaase Sports understands the former Newcastle and Norwich City manager Chris Hughton was offered the position of Technical Advisor for the crucial playoffs with Nigeria next month. This, in the view of the GFA, will allow Chris Hughton the opportunity to familiarize himself with the team and also bring his experience to support efforts towards qualifying for Qatar 2022.
Mutual interests
What is not in doubt, however, is the mutual interest of the two parties.
Sources have told Asaase Sports the GFA’s top brass executives acknowledge Chris Hughton’s experience and pedigree, and have him as their preferred signing for head coach on a long-term basis after the play-offs. However, the GFA is yet to make any commitment in that regard and would decide only after the play-offs. The danger with that is Chris Hughton could receive a job offer from a football club or national team before the GFA makes its move.
Otto Addo’s interest
Otto Addo’s interest in the Black Stars job is not in doubt. However, the Dortmund scout is conflicted between leaving the job security he enjoys in North Rhine-Westphalia, for the choppy waters that are the Black Stars coaching job. Otto is known to have told the GFA that he is not interested in a full-time job as head coach but is prepared to continue supporting the national side during international breaks.
Otto intends to nurture his club coaching career in the Bundesliga.
