Hockey coach Terry Walsh has expressed his reservations at the recent reactions to his decision to resign from the post.
“Please be assured that I have no intention of coercing Hockey India, or the Sports Authority of India, into taking positions or decisions which they do not wish to take, and are not in the best interests of hockey. That is not the way I operate and I would take strong issue with those who assert otherwise,” Walsh said in a letter to Hockey India president N.K. Batra and SAI DG Jiji Thomson.
“Over the past 12 months I have given you my views on a range of subjects which have been again raised in recent times.
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“I have long maintained that the national team would be best served with a more-efficient funding model and a more-contemporary structure for its high-performance programme. I believe that to change this requires some degree of external assessment and evaluation.
“This is consistent with your decision to appoint foreign coaches (myself and Roelant Oltmans) to oversee and change the manner in which the national team competes on the international stage,” Walsh asserted.
Countering the reports, Walsh continued, “At no stage have I maintained that substantial funds be directed to certain individuals. What I have done is provide SAI with the names of some people who have the necessary skills to assist if it is decided to go in that direction.
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“Many others in the sporting world have these capacities. I believe that at least in part; this has received a degree of acceptance. If people of this ilk were to be involved, it would only be as a result of proper process in accordance with best administrative practices. Whether I continue in this coaching role or not, I believe these steps need to be taken for the long-term benefit of the national team.”
On the issue of time away from the team, Walsh said, “With particular reference to my request for more time being spent by me in my home city, I would reiterate that I’ve never asked for 120 days out of India. What I have said is that I need to spend more time at home. I believe that any future arrangements would, as SAI suggests, incorporate a mutually-agreed number of paid working days in Australia.”