Hearts of Oak in the dark over Frank Nuttal arrival

Communication director of Hearts of Oak Kwame Opare Addo says the club are in the dark over the arrival of coach Frank Elliot Nuttal as pre-season intensifies ahead of the upcoming season.

The Scottish gaffer has been away at his native country for the past 21 days where he has been spending time with his family following a busy season with the Phobians last season.

Nuttal was expected to arrive in Ghana last Sunday before the commencement of their pre-season training schedule on Monday.

However, the 48-year-old gaffer did not show up, therefore, deputy coach Henry Wellington had to take charge of the side in his absence.

When asked on Accra-based Happy FM on the arrival of the wily trainer, Opare-Addo answered, "he's still not arrived in the country but we are expecting him soon. It will be helpful if he's in the country by now but it's not something that he will come and go back anytime soon, so he has to make tight arrangement there before coming."

"We expect him to come and continue with the pre-season. He has spent three weeks there but like I said, we are expecting that he will be here together with the coaches to take players through the pre-season but as he's not back and we cannot keep waiting, so the assistant coach [Henry Wellington] and rest of the technical team are leading the players whiles waiting for him to come."

"Having said that, it is instructive to note that whatever the coaches are doing in his absence is something they planned together before he left so they are all aware of how the program works."

The Monday training session witnessed only three registered players with the rest coming from the junior side at the Legon Ajax Park.

And according to reports, some players did not to appear at training grounds on Monday and Tuesday in protest of their outstanding salaries and bonuses.

But reports coming out from the club's camp indicate that the debt has been settled by Board Chairman, Togbe Afede XIV.

Meanwhile, the Phobians will square off against bitterest rivals Kotoko in the return leg of the Ghana @60 celebrations at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday December 24.