Faisal's coach quits, but Grunsah says otherwise

Accra, March 25, GNA - Hans Dieter Schimdt, the coach of Kumasi based King Faisal Sporting Club has resigned his post citing the club's inability to pay his wages.

The coach told the GNA Sports that he would leave for Germany this evening, saying that he will rescind his decision only if his three months salary arrears are settled.

Coach Schimdt has a contract with the club that is expected to run out in 2005.

He however expressed the desire to solve the current problem with the club if the right approach is given, stressing that that his doors are still open to King Faisal, whilst describing himself as a professional who considers such issues as occupational hazards.

"I hope to come back and solve my problems with the club if the floodgates are opened for the sake of the team" he added.

The coach who guided Faisal to annex her first major trophy since they entered the premiership in 1995 earlier this year, dismissed rumours that linked him to a possible job offer from city rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

He said his decision has not been influenced by any such move, adding that, "I am a professional coach who could be contacted by any club, but its up to me to decide'.

The German coached Faisal to chalk an impressive third position in the last league season which ensured their participating in the lucrative Coca Cola Top Four competition which they eventually won.

He is credited with his stance on discipline and his popular saying of, "I always stressed to my players that there is no difference between them and players of Hearts or Kotoko and I am very happy that the message has gone down well with them".

In a related development, Alhaji Karim Grunsah, founder of the club expressed shock at the coach's pronouncement that his salary was in arrears of three months.

"To the best of my knowledge, we have paid him his full salary for January and part for the month of February as stipulated by his earlier contract signed with Mr. Herbert Mensah, the past president of the club."

Explaining some issues, Alhaji Grunsah said the coach followed the footsteps and just left the scene just as Mr Mensah did after the last football season.

He said in view of the vacuum created by his absence and the fact that the Top Four Tournament was fast approaching, he contacted the coach through Ralph Zumdick, the then national coach.

"After some preliminary discussions with him (Schimdt) he decided to resume his duty as the head coach from January on the same salary as previously agreed on for a period of three months until the club got sponsors.

"We paid him 5,200 dollars as his January salary and 2,900 dollars for the month of February as part payment promising to settle the rest later.

"So to the best of my knowledge, the only amount we have to settle with him is the remainder of 2,300 dollars from his February salary and that of the month of March that has not even ended"

Alhaji Grunsah said if anybody owes the coach, then it might be with Herbert Mensah since he was the one who signed him on without his knowledge.