Soccer News of Monday, 30 December 2013

Source: footy-ghana.com

Avram Grant for Black Stars Technical Director job

Footy-ghana.com can confirm that representatives of former Chelsea, Portsmouth and West Ham United manager Avram Grant have contacted the top hierarchy of the Ghana Football Association over Grant becoming the new Black Stars Technical Director.

According to highly placed sources, initial talks have taken place and footy-ghana.com understands that the GFA hierarchy is interested in hiring Grant for the position.

Footy-ghana.com has learnt that should further talks prove successful, Grant will be handed a six-month contract to act as the Technical Director for the Black Stars until after the 2014 World Cup.

Footy-ghana.com sources reveal that powerful figures within the GFA still harbor doubts about the capabilities of head coach Kwasi Appiah with respect to handling Ghana at the World Cup, with Grant being seen by the GFA as the ideal helping hand the ex-Black Stars captain would need.

Grant, who coached the Israeli national team from 2002 to 2006, guided Chelsea to the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, losing on penalties to Manchester United.

Grant also guided a Portsmouth side featuring Kevin Prince Boateng to the 2010 English FA Cup final, where the side lost 0-1 to Chelsea.

The Israeli tactician also guided Partizan Belgrade to the 2012 Serbian league title and is currently out of work.

It will be recalled that footy-ghana.com reported some weeks ago that intermediary contact had been made with Klaus Toppmoeller with respect to the same position, but the GFA denied that any approach had been made.