According to an inside source, it is learnt that the Scottish gaffer of I-League team Salgaocar FC did not have his say in player selection. This especially, when 'Malky', as he is popularly known, had built a repute for himself after working at clubs such as Celtic, Rangers, Blackpool FC, Birmingham City, Limerick, Dundee United and Inverness. Finding scapegoats for non-performances in sport appeared to be nothing new in Malky's case.
Basil Sylvester Pinto
Panaji
Finding scapegoats for non-performances in sport is nothing new, but to give a substantial evidence to reason out a sacking of a coach should be in principle. With the sacking of Salgaocar's head coach, Malcolm Thomson, after his wards were on the receiving end in the first four outings at the ongoing I-League apparently did not go too well with the team honchos leading to his ouster and many heads turn in the football passionate fraternity.
According to an inside source, it is learnt that the Scottish gaffer of the domestic football giant did not have his say in player selection. This especially, when 'Malky', as he is popularly known, had built a repute for himself after working at clubs such as Celtic, Rangers, Blackpool FC, Birmingham City, Limerick, Dundee United and Inverness.
If one recalls, Salgaocar FC with Malcolm 'Malky' Thomson at the helm, finished at a credible third at the recently concluded Goa Pro League, with many of their key players being absent as it ran parallel with the Indian Super League (ISL) which concluded on December 20.
Reportedly, back in September 2015, Malky had voiced his concerns with the shortcomings of his squad in defence. And in order to ensure the strengthening of citadel, he had requested the team management that there was an urgent requirement of stopper-backs. And to this effect, he could address the issue by bringing stopper-backs from Scotland at a steal, but this was not granted.
If you were to look around, the Englishman-coached, Bengaluru FC has three English players in his squad, and even Zico, with FC Goa had his squad with a lot of representation from his home country, Brazil. It is not about favouring home country players with foreign coaches, but knowing them well and how they could fit in your team's game plans.
Malcolm Thomson, the Scottish gaffer, was not given a free hand in choosing players to represent the Vasco-based Goan football club.It is believed that the team management had selected Calvin Mbarga, an Australian, who has been a total flop thus far, Gabriel Fernandes (who came in injured and is still not fit), Seityasen Singh (not fully match fit) and Reagan Singh, who injured himself, prior to his team's first clash. He was further handicapped with no defender quite in place and the back wall looking brittle, save for Augustin Fernandes who played in his normal stopper-back capacity and Nicolau Colaco playing as a stopper, a position he is not well-acquainted with, which was indicative in their first I-League match at home versus Bengaluru FC.An option that could have been used was Lenny who played in the course of the Goa Pro League, but was felt not apt to be blooded that early on a bigger stage. With the likes of Martin Scott and Calvin Mbarga in the infirmary, the reliance of their only foreign import available, Scottish striker, Darryl Duffy weighed in very heavily to poach goals with intent of a forest brigand.
With the arrival of the Brazilian signing, Eder, who attended his first training session only on January 29 at Tilak Maidan, and Martin Scott, looking at playing any moment, though not having regained full fitness yet, Malky felt that in all fairness, with these foreign players at his disposal he could bring around a turnaround in the team's sagging fortunes but they took a call at replacing him.
Our informant reveals that the coach had arrived directly from the Dabolim Airport from Shillong to the Tilak Maidan, Vasco on January 29, to train with the boys who had not travelled with the squad for their last away game. The 100-per-cent dedication and determination towards his team was evident to the fact that the Scottish coach immediately got to the training ground upon his arrival at 3.20 pm and went about his usual pattern of training with the boys including Eder and Martin Scott until two hours later.
With the thought he had a great opportunity to overturn the earlier reverses of the Greens on home ground on Sunday, January 31, it only was to remain a dream. He was not to be given another chance, as post training, two hours later, he was called in by Adlear D'Cruz, Secretary of Salgaocar FC and behind closed doors was immediately given the boot, and not hand in over resignation citing personal reasons as the official club statement was made out to be, our source divulged.
