Hearts to name new coach today?

Accra Hearts of Oak’s desperate search for a new coach appears to be narrowing down to two expatriates, Swede Tom Strand of Medeama and German Ernst Middendorp, who steered the technical affairs of the club during the 2004/2005 season.

At a meeting of a three-member committee comprising board member Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, the club’s Managing Director Gerald Ankrah and Corporate Affairs Manager Joe Addo, the Medeama coach emerged as the favourite, according to a very reliable source.

But the dilemma facing the Phobian management is how to disentangle Strand from a running contract with Medeama, who appeared unwilling to release the coach that led them to their famous MTN FA Cup triumph last month in a season that very little was expected from the Tarkwa-based club.

Strand is expected to lead Medeama’s CAF Confederation Cup campaign next year and the Swedish coach is said to be excited at the prospects of leading Medeama to Africa, which could make the task of signing for at Hearts a very difficult choice for him.

According to Hearts sources, a formal letter will be sent to Medeama today seeking a release of the coach who is said to have applied for the Phobian job through his agent.

The source explained that even though Middendorp came up as the best among the applicants in terms of his pedigree and record with the club, where he propelled a not-too-vintage Hearts to win the Premier League and a slot to the money zone of the CAF Confederation Cup a decade ago, his monetary demands were considered on the high side compared to the others.

"Hearts have no sponsor at the moment to fall on to shoulder the burden of meeting the cost of Midderndorp emoluments and other benefits.

"And in the wisdom of the managers of the club, the signing of the German who is willing to take up the job will take a toll on the club's finances," said the source.