PANAJI
FC Goa are in talks with Zico to retain the Brazilian legend as their manager for the next Indian Super League (ISL) season.
With the franchise reportedly set to undergo a change of ownership in the coming days, the management need to move fast to assemble their new setup with new recruits. Therefore, the Gaurs' primary priority and aim is to ensure the retention of their coach Zico.
Sources close to the club say that despite an agreement being nodded in principle with the Selecao star of the '70s and '80s, FC Goa hadn't begun the formal discussions due to the delayed decision of the ISL Appeals committee on the fate of co-owners Shrinivas Dempo and Dattaraj Salgaocar and other sanctions on the club.
Football website goal.com had earlier reported that a new owner, Jaydev Mody, is set to take over the reins at the club and the Gaurs are set for a fresh start in general. Mody, the chairman of Delta Corp -- the largest and only listed company within the gaming and hospitality segment in India, is expected to buy FC Goa stakes from Dempo and Salgaocar, who own 35 per cent each, in a deal which is expected to be announced soon.
Therefore, the FC Goa management will now move quickly to open official channels of negotiations and tie down Zico to a new contract for the third edition of the ISL. FC Goa see the Brazilian as a sense of balance in turbulent times and his immense connect with the fans of the franchise, who have been very vocal in his support throughout his stint at the helm of the franchise, will see him return to the hot seat of the Goan club.
It is no surprise that most of the new signings of the Blues from Goa have been rubber-stamped by the chief, with a number of players still being shortlisted. A number of players still remain on the radar and FC Goa will seek to ensure a adept tie-up of business after delays off the pitch.
