Dubai: Back-to-back UAE league champions Al Ain have asked for patience from their supporters following a delay in naming a successor to their former coach Cosmin Olaroiu.
First-team supervisor Mohammad Obaid Hammad said negotiations with five coaches began after Olaroiu defected to Al Ahli earlier this month, but two have since pulled out of the running. These are believed to be Al Jazira’s former league and cup double-winning coach Abel Braga and Jorge Fossati, a former Asian Champions League winner with Qatar’s Al Sadd.
“Work is going intensely to announce the new coach,” said Hammad. “We know that we are late to get a coach [in time for pre-season] and that is bad for the team, but we should be thoughtful [in our choice] too.
“Many coaches are showing a desire to coach Al Ain but we have standards for the new coach and need to work according to these standards. Al Ain will make all possible efforts to get the right coach who is able to lead the team and hit the targets for next season.”
Regarding the future of Emirati midfielder Omar Abdul Rahman, Hammad said: “He received many offers to move and we studied them and discussed them all but the final decision will be by the higher management’s hand. The administration of the club does care about the players. Thus if the offer is serious and benefitting the player, we will never be a blocking stone in the players way.”
