Air India coach Santosh Kashyap joins Mohun Bagan

Air India coach Santosh Kashyap has agreed to a deal that will make him the coach of heavyweights Mohun Bagan for the next I-League season. Bagan have parted ways with Prasanta Banerjee — who was appointed coach mid-way last season — and Subrata Bhattacharya, their technical director. An official announcement on the same is expected next week.

Kashyap, who previously was the coach of the Mahindra youth team, guided Mumbai-based Air India to a decent mid-table finish in the recently-concluded I-League season. Bagan, on the other hand, finished fourth, 10 points behind champions Dempo. “It must be noted that Kashyap turned did very well with a side that didn’t have star players. Air India were the favourites to be relegated last season but he helped them to a top-10 finish,” a Bagan official said.

Bagan are in the process of rebuilding their side, having made prolific striker Okolie Odafa their captain and signing Australian Tolgay Ozbey from East Bengal. However, Sunil Chhetri is likely to leave the club.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Godfrey Pereira, who was a member of Kashyap’s coaching staff, may be made the chief coach. However, it could not be confirmed.