Disgruntled hockey head coach shoots off letter to Batra and Thomson, saying that's not the way he operates
Three days after Hockey India (HI) president Narinder Batra said head coach Terry Walsh cannot "blackmail" them, the Australian has been taken aback.
In a letter addressed to Batra on Tuesday, a copy of which is with dna, the Australian hit back, saying he has no intention of attempting to blackmail anyone.
Batra had told this paper on Saturday that HI will not put up with Walsh's unreasonable demands — 120 days of paid leave among others — and that "if he thinks India is a milking cow, he is wrong".
In the letter, Walsh stated that he was taken aback by those comments. "Please be assured that I have no intention of attempting to blackmail or coerce Hockey India or the Sports Authority of India into taking positions or decisions which they do not wish to take and are not in the best interests of hockey. That is not the way I operate and I would take strong issue with those who assert otherwise," Walsh wrote.
On the issue of him staying away from India, the former Olympian said he had never asked for 120 days. "What I have said is that I need to spend more time at home if that was practical and possible, while not losing sight of the needs of the national programme. I believe that any future arrangements would, as SAI suggests, incorporate a mutually agreed number of paid working days in Australia," he said.
SAI director-general Jiji Thomson said the body employs as many as 32 coaches and that SAI can't make an exception for Walsh.
"I do not seek to set myself apart from other coaches. What I seek is an empathetic understanding of my personal circumstances and the unique position which is coach of India," Walsh said.
Another issue Batra mentioned was Walsh's desire to get three compatriots — David Hatt for greater sports network, Steve Smith for political interface and Bruce Elliott for sports science/sports medicine — on board. Walsh had also told this paper it was important that the budget and supply by the government for hockey was directly accessible to the high-performance group.
"...I have long maintained that the national team would be best served with a more efficient funding model and a more contemporary structure for its high-performance program. I believe that to change this requires some degree of external assessment and evaluation.
"At no stage have I maintained that substantial funds be directed to certain individuals. What I have done is provide SAI with the names of some people who have the necessary skills to assist if it is decided to go in that direction. Many others in the sporting world have these capacities. I believe that, at least in part, this has received a degree of acceptance. If people of this ilk were to be involved it would only be as a result of proper process in accordance with best administrative practices. Whether I continue in this coaching role or not, I believe these steps need to be taken for the long-term benefit of the national team," Walsh said.
Walsh added that he was not demanding immediate solution to all the issues. "That would be improper and imprudent. However all the issues which have been recently raised have been aired on several occasions over the past 12 months," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}