Two-year extension for Day, Watkiss
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) wants Jamie Day to scout expatriate footballers from the uk in a bid to strengthening the national team, with the game's local governing body having already decided in principle to renew the contract with the English coach for another two years.
Day was in the beginning signed in May 2018 for a one-year contract, and carrying out a fairly successful tenure, his contract was extended by another year, which would expire on, may 15. Satisfied with his performance, the BFF happens to be in discussion about handing him and his assistant Stuart Watkiss another two years' contract.
"The agreement with Day is nearly exactly like before but this time we will renew it for two years. We remain discussing details of some clauses slowly as we don't know when football activities will resume following the corona pandemic. Due to the uncertainty of football activities, both parties believe to provide each other space to complete unfinished businesses, which may be the remaining fixtures of Qatar World Cup Qualifiers and upcoming SAFF Championship," BFF vice-president Tabith Awal told The Daily Star over phone.
Tabith, who's also vice-chairman of the National Teams Committee, informed that they are adding a clause in Day's new contract, which would be for him to scout expatriate talents from the UK to fortify the national team.
"Though former coach Lodewijk de Kruif wished to scout expatriate footballers from Europe, we could not it properly. Jamal Bhuiyan is our only expatriate footballer. This time we believe Day, as a British coach, can play a good role in scouting expatriate players from UK. So, we have kept this part of his job description in the draft contract," Tabith said, adding that this time they need the coach to be stationed in Bangladesh for longer periods to avoid controversy regarding his lengthy stays in UK.
With all football activities halted, the BFF has proposed the contract to enter into effect 90 days after it is signed.
"We want to keep carefully the contract flexible but realistic. You want to sign the brand new contract prior to the current contract expires. We have decided in principle to keep some clauses flexible such as for example when he starts to get salary, when he will come, when he will leave because FIFA and AFC are also likely to deliver some rulings about the national team's coaching staff and we are able to adapt those rulings in the existing contract," Tabith said, adding they have proposed that the contract would enter into effect 4-6 weeks prior to the resumption of World Cup Qualifiers.
Day admitted to being in discussion about the brand new contract, which he said is comparable to the last one.
"BFF proposed August and I understand the problem. We still have a few issues to agree on before the two-year agreement is signed," the coach told The Daily Star.
BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag also informed that contracts with two youth team coaches -Bob Ryles and Andrew Peter -- are likely to expire on April 26 and that both coaches, who are in England, wished to find out about their fate.
"We haven't replied them yet as we must discuss the problem with the high-ups in the coming days. After the discussion, we will let them know about our decision on whether we will renew the contracts or not," Shohag said.
