Grant invokes another leave

Avram Grant has taken a second leave of office, seven months into his job as coach of the Ghana national team.

It will be recalled that the former Chelsea boss was initially handed a 10-day leave by the Ghana FA right after leading the Black Stars to second place at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

He left Accra last weekend amidst strong rumours of ‘legitimately forcing’ his way out by invoking a leave clause in his contract after some back-and-forths with his employers.

Grant’s team comprehensively defeated the Islanders 7-1 in Accra on June 7.

Grant, after quite a number of travels as previously claimed by the Ghana FA as being on a player monitoring tour for the national team, once again left the shores of the country last Saturday – this time on a ‘legitimate leave’ and has joined his family in Israel.

Insider reports indicate the top hierarchy of the Ghana FA directed the former Chelsea gaffer to stay put and go on a monitoring exercise to identify potential talents from the local league but Grant declined, opting for a time out with his family.

The Israeli gaffer is said to have beaten the Ghana FA to a protracted argument by activating the leave provision in his seven-month old contract – a demand which left his employers powerless and have since granted him his wish.

No rift

Management chief of the Black Stars and Ghana FA Executive Committee member, George Afriyie, has attempted to deny any confrontation by stating that Grant’s departure for holidays was due, hence the permission given him.

“Grant began his duties on 2nd of December and is seven months old in the job already. So if we were to hand him two leave periods a year, I believe you know then it is overdue,” he said.

Afriyie continues: “He asked to be allowed to take a break to see his family after we played Mauritius. He got the permission and left last Saturday.

”I don’t ever remember Grant discuss figures directly with us from the very day we interviewed him for the job till now. All monetary issues are handled by his managers.

”As for his salary which we pay through the GNPC, we don’t owe him. Issues of match bonuses are handled by the Sports Ministry and they are the best to answer,” the Ghana FA chief ended.