Kumasi Asante Kotoko might be looking for a new coach as the head coach. Mr. Ian Porterfield’s contract, which ends in April next year, has been cut short.

He has been given the sack after only four months.

His appointment has been terminated with effect from September 1, 2002, the very day his boys whipped Egypt side Gazel El Mahala 3-0 in the Cup Winners Cup at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.

The coach is to hand over all club materials in his possession and quit the official residence within three days of the issue of the letter, which announced the purported termination of his appointment.

Reasons assigned by the Kotoko’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Herbert Mensah for the decision of management are that on August 25, 2002, Porterfield spoke “in a very insulting manner to the “top most administrator (Herbert) of the club.”

The coach is also said to have described Kotoko management as incompetent and the worst he ever worked with.

“Management cannot work with a coach who has little respect for the very establishment that appointed him,” the letter terminating Porterfield’s appointment stated.

Ian Porterfield, however, denies the allegations.

He has denied conducting himself in an insulting manner to the CEO or any other member of management.

“The allegation is demonstrably untrue,” he defended.

The coach rather accused the CEO of physically manhandling him.

He explained that CEO Mensah pinned him to the wall and threw punches at him in the dressing room for well over five minutes.

According to the aggrieved coach Mensah nearly strangled him but for his love for the club (Kotoko) he did not bring this unacceptable conduct of the CEO to the public domain until now.

The CEO is reported to have ordered the coach to get out of Ghana because “ you and I cannot work together”.

Porterfield claims the scene was witnessed by three staff including, Kojo Nyarko and the PRO, Haruna.

Herbert is also said to have threatened Porterfield’s wife, Glenda Lalai, at the VIP lounge to leave Ghana but before they did so, they should be looking at their backs because” he (Herbert) was a powerful man.

The coach says never in his 40-year career as a professional coach, in Zambia, Oman, Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago has he suffered such assault and battery on his person like CEO Mensah inflicted on him on the day in question.

Porterfield sees the purported termination of his appointment as a flagrant violation of the terms and conditions under which he was engaged.

He does not intend to engage in any legal wranglings of any sort with the club.

He (Porterfield) is full of praises and speaks passionately of Kotoko.

“I have not gained financially but I have enjoyed working for Kotoko and I am so happy,” he told the Chronicle in Kumasi.

The coach says in the absence of any conduct, which could remotely be described as a breach of contract his termination is a fabrication of charges intended to dent the clear public image he has carved for himself during the short but successful spell of time with Kotoko.

Coach Porterfield has since May when he was signed on played 20 matches for Kotoko, won 17 of them, drawn 2 and lost only one to Accra Hearts of Oak, which defeat was attributed to the fact that Kotoko went into the match without four key players.

Chronicle has gathered that inspite of several requests the CEO has not given the coach a copy of the agreement.

At the time of going to press the coach claimed he had not received his salary of ?5000 in England and ?5 million in Ghana in respect of August 2002.

Meanwhile Porterfield’s solicitors have described the quit order as a revolutionary demand, curious in theory and bizarre in practice,” as it is calculated to embarrass him.

Solicitor Kwasi Afrifa of O & A Legal Consult in Kumasi is demanding exemplary charges in addition to the entire amount, which would have been earned by Porterfield for the one-year engagement but for the “unwarranted and baseless dismissal.”

Porterfield’s reaction per his solicitor to the purported termination of his appointment duly signed by Herbert Mensah, has been copied to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Mr. P.V. Obeng (Chairman of the Board) and directors of the club.

Porterfield is yet to tell his story to the public at an intended press conference soon.

Chronicle can reveal that the players are not happy with the situation.

A source close to the captain Gordon Ablordey has confided in the paper that the players are solidly behind the dismissed coach.

Herbert Mensah could not be reached for his commnets as he had travelled outside the country.

He was expected back late yesterday, but PRO Haruna responded to Chronicle enquiries.

He, however, denied any assault of Porterfield by CEO Mensah as alleged.

Haruna claimed the coach appeared abusive when he was prompted by the CEO to re-organise his boys when it became evident that Kotoko was losing the game to Olympics.

Kotoko, one nil down, eventually came from behind and won the match 2-1 to the admiration of the playing body and the supporters.