Australian Michael Nobbs sacked as Indian hockey team's chief coach

Australian Michael Nobbs has been unceremoniously sacked as Indian hockey team's chief coach due to non-performance, thus becoming the fourth foreign coach to be shown the door before completion of the full tenure.

Australian Michael Nobbs  sacked as Indian hockey team's chief coach

Hockey India Secretary General Narinder Batra said that Nobbs' contract has been terminated and he is presently serving a one-month notice period. Roelant Oltmans, who is currently the High Performance Manager, has been given charge of the team until a new coach is appointed.

Batra, however, claimed it was the Australian who decided to quit as he felt that he was not doing justice to his job.

"He himself had offered to resign during a meeting with Roelant Oltmans. There were some issues with his coaching style. Oltmans feel there were some areas in which we were lacking and Nobbs was not being able to rectify them and not producing the desired results," Batra told PTI.

"Accordingly, we have informed the SAI that we are not willing to avail his services anymore. For the time being Oltmans will take the additional responsibility of coach of the men’s team. He will be in charge of the team till we find a suitable replacement which might take 2 to 3 months time," he added

Nobbs, who took over the charge in 2011, was offered a five-year contract and a handsome salary, but his association with Indian hockey lasted merely two years and finally ended on a bitter note.

Before Nobbs, Spaniard Jose Barsa, Australian Ric Charlesworth and Germany's Gerhard Rach coached the Indian side but were pushed out due to several issues.

Nobbs was looked upon as someone who can cure Indian hockey, but the Australian failed to change the fortunes of the past masters of the game.

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