Churchill Brothers sack Fernandes, appoint Derrick Pereira as head coach

THE I-LEAGUE SEASON witnessed its second managerial casualty when Churchill Brothers decided to part ways with head coach Albert Fernandes and replaced him with veteran gaffer Derrick Pereira.

After making a comeback in the top division after two years of forced exile, Churchill Brothers have had a hard time exerting themselves. After 9 matches, they are at the bottom of the league table with 6 points, staring at a relegation. The only victory they got came against Bengaluru FC at home; a game marred by off-the-field altercations and outgoing head coach Alfred Fernandes was at the thick of it.

Derrick Pereira, a former defender who represented India for 7 years during his playing career, has been managing top division clubs since 2000. He has been the head coach of Vasco, Mahindra United, Salgaocar and DSK Shivajians in the past with varying degrees of success. Last season, as the Shivajians' coach, he had a less memorable season with his team finishing at the bottom of the table.

But it's his experience that the Churchill Brothers administration are betting on in order to break this bottom-table jinx. As it is, the Goan club is a shadow of its former glorious self, but a relegation on its comeback season would be insult to injury for the club which has won the I-League twice so far.