Soccer News of Friday, 2 January 2015
Source: footy-ghana.com
Footy-ghana.com can confirm that the future of former Hearts of Oak head coach David Duncan as the head coach of Premier League returnees Great Olympics is in serious doubt, following disagreements over signing a contract with the club.
The Wahala begins: Shadow of Hearts of Oak
According to our well-placed sources, the drama began in August 2014 when Duncan refused to sign a contract with Great Olympics because Hearts of Oak still owed him GH¢52,000 ($16800).
Footy-ghana.com understands that Hearts of Oak paid Duncan GH¢27,000 ($8800) before he began to train the Great Olympics side.
Great Olympics steps in to ‘loan’ Duncan money
Footy-ghana.com investigations reveal that after some time, Duncan asked questions about the remainder of the amount due him by Hearts of Oak and the Great Olympics hierarchy decided to pay him the due sum of GH¢ 25,000 ($8000) with the proviso that the club will be reimbursed when Hearts of Oak pays the money.
Footy-ghana.com understands that when Hearts of Oak paid Duncan the money, the hierarchy of Great Olympics asked him for reimbursement of the GH¢25,000 paid, but Duncan then raised the issue of unpaid salaries, even though he was yet to sign a contract at the time.
Eventually, Duncan paid the money back to Great Olympics
Contract offer and perusal plus presser no show
Our sources further reveal that eventually, the club gave Duncan an employment contract to study, after paying him his outstanding salaries for the work he has done with the team since the commencement of training.
Footy-ghana.com can confirm that Duncan’s lawyer incorporated changes to the contract and sent the amended copy back to the club, but Duncan himself spoke publicly at the time of parting company with Great Olympics.
Footy-ghana.com understands that, as per the contract, Duncan is due a monthly salary of GH¢7000 and so was owed GH¢14000 for the months of October and November.
Duncan was also due an enticement fee of GH¢35,000 to be paid in two instalments, once he puts pen to paper on the two-year contract.
Footy-ghana.com understands that Duncan was paid GH¢10,000 when the contract was presented to him for perusal and he later received the remaining GH¢4000.
Our sources further reveal that when Duncan was asked to sign the contract, he responded by saying that he wanted the payment of GH¢1600 for fuel in addition to mobile phone airtime.
Our sources can confirm that Great Olympics had scheduled a press conference for December 30 2014 for the contract to be signed, but Duncan’s reluctance saw the press conference called off.
Exasperation leads to decisive Board meeting next week
Footy-ghana.com sources further reveal that the Great Olympics hierarchy has grown exasperated at Duncan’s actions and the club’s board will call for a meeting next week to take a decision on the ex-Hearts of Oak chief’s future with the club.