By IANS
Pune : Newly formed Pune Football Club, which will be playing in the second division I-League, have appointed former Irish World Cupper Bernard McNally as its coach.
McNally, 45, replaces Stewart Hall, who was in-charge of the Pune FC last year.
McNally represented Northern Ireland in the 1986 Mexico Olympics and he has more than two decades of experience in English professional football. The Irishman is not the only World Cupper in the Pune side as they have also signed up Caribbean defender Cyd Gray. Both the signings were completed last week.
Gray, 32, played for Trinidad and Tobago in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. These two appointments are surely going to bolster Pune FC’s chances in the second division league.
Among the few professional coaches with a UEFA Pro-Licence, McNally has worked with MAC Technical Skills and was responsible for the development of a comprehensive and technical skills programme at the Centre of Excellence – West Brom Albion.
“Coaching is about hard work, determination, and inspiration at the right moment. I believe this is a great time for Pune FC to make their mark and to accomplish this, our practice sessions are already on a roll and we are all set to play in the forthcoming second division I-League,” he was quoted as saying on the club’s website.
Pune along with Kolhapur will be the venues for the qualifier of the second division and the final round will be played in Guwahati. The draw of the second division will be made in New Delhi March 15.