I have no bad feelings towards FA, says Jodar

Jean Francois Jodar confirmed yesterday that the UAE Football Association (FA) has officially terminated his contract.

The former coach was preparing to leave for France, before thinking about his future.

"I don't have any contract at the present. People are unaware that the UAE FA has officially terminated my services," Jodar said to the Gulf News.

"I don't want to comment on their decision, despite their earlier confirmation to local newspapers that I would continue as the youth team coach. As a professional coach, I expect these things to happen. I don't have any bad feelings towards the FA officials," he said.

Jodar was signed to a three-year contract to coach the UAE youth team by the former FA whose term was to end in 2005.

The FA Temporary Committee, that took over following the resignation of the President Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, asked Jodar to take over the senior and Olympic teams in February after dismissing Roy Hodgson. Following their appointment, the new FA members believed that Jodar was unsuitable for the job and Dutchman Aad de Mos subsequently was recruited.

The reason behind Jodar's dismissal was the excessive financial demands made by him before his contract came up for renewal. The charge has been denied by Jodar on the grounds that no FA official had discussed the details of the proposed contract. On Tuesday, Khalid bin Faris, the chairman of FA's Teams Committee, informed Jodar his contract had been terminated. He was paid two months' salary as compensation.

Jodar's Tunisian assistant, Dr. Nourddin Bufalaga, was also dismissed.