Unceremonious exit for Biswajit Bhattacharya, East Bengal look to bring back Trevor Morgan

IN THE END it was an unceremonious exit for East Bengal head coach Biswajit Bhattacharya. The "home boy" of the Red and Golds who served the club as a player for almost his entire club career had to see his first tenure as the club's head coach come to an end amidst heartbreak and bitterness. His departure seems to be paving the way for Trevor James Morgan's return to the Kolkata club.

Bhattacharya submitted his resignation to the club after East Begnal lost 3-1 to Bengaluru FC and reduced their chances of winning the I-League to almost zero. The coach sent in his letter of resignation via email and vented his frustration in his column in Ananda Bazar Patrika, alleging that some players along with some staff had conspired to remove him from the job, and "backstabbed" him by constantly leaking his private conversations with players to the media.

The coach also blamed one of the biggest grievances of fans against him - being unable to establish a stable combination in defence and other areas - on some of the prominent first team players suffering from injuries for most of the season. 

Although Bhattacharya has left his post at a time when East Bengal still have a thin chance to claim the title, the club wasn't hesitant to accept his resignation and the search for his successor also seems to have progressed quite a bit already. 

Trevor James Morgan, the former East Bengal coach who later served at Dempo SC and ISL franchise Kerala Blasters, remains a favourite among the club's fans and officials thanks to his 3 year spell at the club during which he won them the Federation Cup (beating Mohun Bagan in the final, no less) and multiple CFL titles. In fact it was him who some of the powerful officials in the club wanted to hire this season but could not due to financial reasons. Those constraints are now gone and they are looking to hire him again, and talks are reportedly at an advanced stage already. 

If all things go according to plan, East Bengal are likely to go into the Federation Cup which starts early May with a new coach at the helm. And that coach is likely to be tried-and-tested gaffer Morgan.