Bagan forms three-member panel to keep tab on Darby

Tightening its control on beleaguered chief soccer coach Stephen David Darby in the wake of the club's disastrous performance in the Federation Cup, city giants Mohun Bagan on Monday appointed a three-member technical panel including country's soccer legend Chuni Goswami for monitoring practice and giving inputs on team building for the next season.

"The technical committee will watch the practice sessions and matches of the football team and give its advice and recommendations to the management. It would also give its advice and recommendation regarding recruitment and team building for the next season," club general secretary Anjan Mitra said in a statement.

Two former India internationals Prasanta Banerjee and Satyajit Chatterjee are also part of the panel which would start functioning from October 17.

The development comes after Bagan's unceremonious ouster from the group league stage of the Federation Club - a tournament they have won 13 times - with defeats to rookies Royal Wahingdoh and Lajong. Mohun Bagan got only one point from the three outings.

There was lot of speculation then that Darby could face the axe, but following intervention of sponsors UB group, it was decided to give some more time to the coach.

However, a club official said on condition of anonymity that there was a need to increase vigil on Darby as there were lot of shortcomings in his functioning.

"We need to monitor his functioning. We are not at all satisfied with his practice regimen. He has even conducted sessions which were over in 45 minutes. He has not been able to make the injured players fit," the official said.