Chris Hughton close to landing Black Stars job
Ghana football chiefs are expected to announce the appointment of former Newcastle United manager, Chris Hughton, as the next Black Stars head coach this week to replace Milovan Rajevac, who was sacked last month following Ghana's abysmal Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been shopping for a coach to fill the vacant position, with Hughton edging closely to being named as Rajevac's replacement on the back of a strong support from the government.
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Even though GFA President, Mr Kurt Okraku, travelled to Germany to speak with Borussia Dortmund's Otto Addo to take charge of the team on an interim basis to oversee Ghana's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff against Nigeria next month, the Graphic Sports understands that the FA boss is expected to hold crunch meeting with key government officials to endorse Hughton as Ghana's next coach.
Compromise
Insiders say a compromise arrangement could be struck for Addo, who was assistant to Rajevac but was part of Ghana's backroom staff at the AFCON, to assist Hughton for the two-leg World Cup playoff after which the 63-year-old of Irish and Ghanaian parentage takes charge of the national team on a long-term contract.
Following Rajevac's sack after four months in charge, the GFA's Executive Committee opted for 46-year-old Addo as a stop-gap coach to manage next month's World Cup playoff due to the exigencies of time as well as his familiarity with the Ghanaian players and the team's dressing room.
However, strong governmental backing for Hughton is forcing the FA to make compromises and avoid possible rift with the government which is responsible for payment of the national coach's salary.
Hughton is said to be enjoying strong backing from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other high-ranking government officials who insist the GFA will not have the sole right to name the next Black Stars coach after the two previous appointments (Charles Akonnor and Rajevac) proved costly.
"It is about time the government also have a say in who manages the national team because it is the government that is responsible for payment of the coach's salary," said an official of the ministry on condition of anonymity.
"We need a top class coach who can rebuild the team, inspire confidence in the players and also has the capacity to attract other players to play for Ghana."
Stakeholder engagement
GFA General Secretary, Mr Prosper Harrison Addo, told the Graphic Sports that the football governing body was engaging the stakeholders, including the government, for alignment following which an agreement would be reached on who replaced Rajevac.
"We have a good relationship with the ministry and other key stakeholders and we'll continue to work together to fulfil the aspirations of Ghanaians. Soon a coach will be appointed and we'll rally behind him to face Nigeria and beyond," he said yesterday.
Perhaps assured of the top job, Hughton arrived in the country last month and reportedly held meetings with some key government officials.
He was spotted at an Accra hotel with former Hearts of Oak star Bismark Odoi, which immediately sparked off rumours that the coach was discussing a possible nationality switch by England and Chelsea youngster, Callum Husdon Odoi, who was then in Ghana on a short holiday.
Last week, Hughton -- whose father hailed from Jamestown -- paid a courtesy call on the Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayibonte, during which the former Hearts CEO affirmed his unflinching support to one-time Brighton and Hove Albion manager.
When the deal is officially sealed, Houghton will become the first Ghanaian of foreign descent to handle the national team, joining a long list of former coaches including, Rajevac, Akonnor, Kwasi Appiah, Goran Stevanovic, Sellas Tetteh, Claude Le Roy, Burkhard Ziese, Fred Osam-Duodu, Millan Zivadinovic, and Cecil Jones Attuquayefio.