The Bangladesh Football Federation and national coach Lodewijk De Kruif reached a consensus on Monday to end their relationship in an amicable manner, officials said.
The BFF earlier decided to dismiss Kruif and his assistant Rene Koster, accusing the Dutchmen on their negligence of duties. While BFF insisted they are firm in their decision, officials said they do not want to drag the issue too far and offered Kruif an olive branch to end the matter.
The BFF cited four reasons for their decision and handed over a show-cause letter to Kruif asking him to reply within 48 hours.
A close-door meeting was held between BFF top officials and Kruif at the BFF House on Monday where the first secretary of the Netherlands embassy was also present to assist the coach.
Kruif left the BFF House without talking to media after the meeting.
BFF vice president and member of the national team committee, Tabith Awual, said that they had a positive discussion with the coach and both parties decided not to seek FIFA intervention in this matter.
‘Both BFF and Kruif agreed to terminate the contract in a friendly manner,’ Tabith said in an off-the-cuff press conference. `Both sides have some obligations under the contract and we have decided to respect that without seeking the interference of any third party.’
‘This is for sure that we don’t want to continue our relationship. Now we both will appoint lawyers to reach a proper and acceptable solution to all.
‘We are waiting for his [coach] answer of the show-cause notice and after that we will talk with our lawyers. We are hoping that we could reach an acceptable solution within 30 days,’ said Awual.
BFF was also happy after the meeting that they will not have to give any compensation to Kruif for unilaterally terminating the contract. It was feared as Kruif may seek the salaries of eight months that was left in his contract but the coach decided otherwise, said the BFF officials.
‘In the meeting we were discussing about the unpaid wages and he [Kruif] agreed not to demand any compensation from the BFF,’ said the official adding that, ‘Now we will make a written agreement with the coach about the financial matters within a day or two before he leaves.
Though the contract is yet to be ended, BFF decided not to keep in the dugout during the two FIFA friendlies against Sir Lanka scheduled in October 24 and 27 in Jessore and Rajshahi respectively.
Assistant coach Saiful Bari will remain in charge of the team during the matches, confirmed Tabith.
-With New Age input
