Rozario steps down as Bagan coach

Faced with intense pressure from supporters and officials alike, beleaguered Mohun Bagan coach Stanly Rozario on Monday stepped down from the hotseat for "greater interest of the club".

"Since Mohun Bagan is a formidable club and top contenders in Indian football, I want the team to bounce back and bring back the winning attitude," Rozario wrote in his resignation letter.

"So at this point of time in the greater interest of the club and the team, I will like to step down from my job as chief coach."

With two consecutive defeats and a draw in the ongoing I-League, Mohun Bagan's campaign has got off to a jittery start.

Conceding that Mohun Bagan are going through a crisis, club general secretary Anjan Mitra told PTI from Goa: "We are going through a problem at the moment. But we will not die -- this is not the end. Being one of the top clubs in India, we will tackle the situation bravely and bounce back."

There is a strong rumour that Mohun Bagan are in talks with Belgian coach Phillippe de Ridder who is expected to be in the city next week.

"We want to consider a lot of options, but I've no idea about de Ridder being approached."

Like Rozario, de Ridder too had coached East Bengal earlier.