Dark clouds are circling above Mumbai FC's bastion of the Cooperage as Santosh Kashyap's future hangs in the balance.
The Yellow and Blues' management have made definitive steps to sacking the gaffer of the bottom placed I-League side, according to a report in the Times of India. The former Royal Wahingdoh coach was said to have parlayed with the deputy Vice-president of the club, who has conveyed the management's decision to relieve the former of his duties.
“While the management was happy with the changes he brought about in the training methods, the results simply didn't go in his favour. He just had to go,“ revealed a source close to the developments.
In a statement exclusively to Goal however, Kashyap has refused to comment on any of the speculation.
"I cannot comment on anything at the moment. Once a decision has been made, I'll convey my opinion to you," expressed the former Salgaocar coach.
Rumours of rifts with the players and a conspicuously soured association with the club's fans have blighted the 50-year-old coach's stint at the club in the heart of the commercial capital of India.
A former India international, the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Professional certified coach began his campaign hoping to lead the Maharashtra capital-based team to a top three finish in this, their ninth consecutive year in the nation's top division.
However, after a positive start, the club have tailed away spectacularly and recorded a harrowing 12 game winless streak - seven losses and five draws. The latest defeat came at the hands of a then struggling DSK Shivajians, who blitzed past the Mumbaikars with a 5-0 scoreline.
Fans' ire has focussed solely on the manager, who had fallen out with three players in the fold earlier - Steven Dias, Allan Dias and Pratik Chowdhary. Subsequently, these players were shown the door at the Essel Group owned club. Though they have since been recalled, the division in squad had been exacerbated by this move and Kashyap was offered minimum reprieve.
With the club languishing in the relegation zone and with little hope of survival unless a drastic turnaround takes hold in the clubs final four matches, the club have supposedly decided to bite the sacking bullet.