Hearts Board to meet on CEO

Accra, April 19, GNA - The Board of Directors of Accra Hearts of Oak are scheduled to hold a crisis meeting next week to consider the resignation of Mr. Thomas Okine as the Chief Executive Officer of the club.

Mr. Okine was said to have tended in his resignation letter from his post on Monday evening after serving in that capacity for three consecutive seasons.

Mr. Ato Ahwoi, Board Chairman of the Phobians told the GNA Sports that his outfit plans to meet on the issue to decide on whether to accept or reject the CEO's resignation letter that is dated Friday, April 15.

He said the position of the Board would only be known after next week's meeting and its subsequent presentation of its report to the Council of Patrons for approval or otherwise.

Meanwhile Mr. Francis MacCarty, Vice Chairman of the Management Board in the interim is to act in Mr. Okine's position.

Though many have described Mr. Okine's exit as a huge surprise that is capable of worsening the already precarious situation of the defending league champions, Mr. Ahwoi said "nothing no longer surprises me in this world though the CEO's resignation was not expected. "I have come to accept that in life anything can happen and having experienced so much, I see nothing surprising about the new development".

Mr Ahwoi refused to consider Mr. Okine's resignation as a crisis, insisting that, "we have seen it all before and I would like to remind people about Harry Zakour's resignation three seasons ago. We have the structures in Hearts and wonder how his exit can crumble the Club". The new development is expected to bring additional headaches to the club's top hierarchy who have lived under the pressure of getting a substantive coach after the departure of Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio last month.

The Phobians have been through turbulent situations in recent times from agitated supporters who clamoured for the head of 'stand-in' coach Archibald Lamptey after their 2-3 loss to Ebusua Dwarfs in their Premier league opener at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday as well as the call for a change in the club's administrative management. Mr Okine has on record to have achieved two league titles plus the prestigious Confederation Cup that he won at the expense of his bitter rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko in his kitty during his three-year reign. He has however of late remained the target of many of the Club's fans especially during difficult moments where the call for his resignation became the popular song.