By Patrick Akoto
Ghanaian champions Asante Kotoko have launched an audacious bid to sign Ashantigold coach Bashir Hayford as pressure mounts on Mas-ud Dramani to quit, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.
Top officials of the Porcupine Warriors have held initial discussions with Hayford and are determined to bring him back to Kumasi.
GHANAsoccernet.com can reveal that the two-time African champions are keen to buy the coach out of contract as he is still contracted to the miners.
The future of current coach Mas-ud Dramani is now a matter of intense conjecture in the local media following the side’s flagging start to the season.
The club has lost the spark which won them the league title in three years in succession as they struggle for consistency and form this term.
They lie at a disappointing 7th position on the table after picking only eight points from a possible 18.
Dramani is believed to be falling out-of-favour at the club despite winning the league title back-to-back, prompting officials to initiate talks with Hayford over his potential return to the Garden City.
Hayford has transformed Ashantigold since he joined from Medeama with his side currently occupying the top spot on the Ghana Premier League table.
Even though Kotoko officials are tight-lipped on the latest development and in self-denial, Ghana’s leading football website can report that talks have started with the coach tossing with the idea of re-joining his former club.
He won the Ghana Premier League crown with Kotoko in the 2007-8 season.
Kotoko travel to Obuasi on Wednesday to face their regional rivals in the top-of-the-bill clash at the Len Clay stadium.