‘HI doesn’t need Terry Walsh’
26 Nov 2014 10:35 PM GMT
This move from Batra comes just as Walsh expressed his willingness to continue as India chief coach despite recently resigning from his post due to bureaucratic red-tapism.
In a letter addressed to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) director General Jiji Thomson, Batra wrote: ‘We have received a mail from Hockey USA as confidential and as per that mail the issue of financial irregularity by Mr. Walsh in USA is not settled even as of today, hence his contention that his issue with USA was settled in 2012 is false and incorrect.’
A week ago, Batra had alleged that the Australian coach was involved in financial impropriety during his tenure with USA Field Hockey. ‘Further, Mr. Terry Walsh thru press and media has been threatening to file legal cases. Mr. Walsh has been given sufficient time to clarify on the financial irregularity issue and he instead tried to beat around the bush. HI now does not require services of Mr. Terry Walsh and will look for a new chief coach with approval of SAI,’ added Batra.
The Indian hockey strongman continued his attack on Walsh, writing that Walsh was trying to project as a ‘martyr’ and HI as a ‘villain’. ‘Regarding his showing commitment for players, I had in presence of HI CEO and Mr. Oltmans offered full salary for one month after Nov 19 to Terry Walsh to stay on with the Indian team till Champions Trophy (but this was prior to the issue of USA Hockey coming to our notice) and he refused to stay back till SAI agreed on his 120 days paid holiday in Australia and at that time he showed no concern for the Indian team, now he wants to project himself as martyr before the media and HI a villain. We would very kindly request your goodself to forward our mail to hon’ble minister as HI views on Mr. Terry Walsh’s re-employment for hockey in India,’ wrote Batra.
Walsh on Monday had written to sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal where he clarified his position about the entire affair. The 60-year-old Australian thanked SAI for being cooperative and expressed his desire to continue coaching India.
‘I will keep faith with SAI and undertake to accede to their request to continue to coach the national team in the medium-term subject to the resolution of several issues with HI. Hopefully truth and common sense will prevail in the interests of the game. One issue that has clouded discussions has been the introduction of a reprehensible allegation relating to my tenure with the USA Field Hockey Federation. The allegation is baseless and has already been refuted by US hockey officials. It is still being peddled,’ he wrote.
In a letter addressed to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) director General Jiji Thomson, Batra wrote: ‘We have received a mail from Hockey USA as confidential and as per that mail the issue of financial irregularity by Mr. Walsh in USA is not settled even as of today, hence his contention that his issue with USA was settled in 2012 is false and incorrect.’
A week ago, Batra had alleged that the Australian coach was involved in financial impropriety during his tenure with USA Field Hockey. ‘Further, Mr. Terry Walsh thru press and media has been threatening to file legal cases. Mr. Walsh has been given sufficient time to clarify on the financial irregularity issue and he instead tried to beat around the bush. HI now does not require services of Mr. Terry Walsh and will look for a new chief coach with approval of SAI,’ added Batra.
The Indian hockey strongman continued his attack on Walsh, writing that Walsh was trying to project as a ‘martyr’ and HI as a ‘villain’. ‘Regarding his showing commitment for players, I had in presence of HI CEO and Mr. Oltmans offered full salary for one month after Nov 19 to Terry Walsh to stay on with the Indian team till Champions Trophy (but this was prior to the issue of USA Hockey coming to our notice) and he refused to stay back till SAI agreed on his 120 days paid holiday in Australia and at that time he showed no concern for the Indian team, now he wants to project himself as martyr before the media and HI a villain. We would very kindly request your goodself to forward our mail to hon’ble minister as HI views on Mr. Terry Walsh’s re-employment for hockey in India,’ wrote Batra.
Walsh on Monday had written to sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal where he clarified his position about the entire affair. The 60-year-old Australian thanked SAI for being cooperative and expressed his desire to continue coaching India.
‘I will keep faith with SAI and undertake to accede to their request to continue to coach the national team in the medium-term subject to the resolution of several issues with HI. Hopefully truth and common sense will prevail in the interests of the game. One issue that has clouded discussions has been the introduction of a reprehensible allegation relating to my tenure with the USA Field Hockey Federation. The allegation is baseless and has already been refuted by US hockey officials. It is still being peddled,’ he wrote.
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