Under fire AshantiGold coach Bashir Hayford has threatened to sue three radio stations and four sports journalists for misrepresenting facts about his stay in Obuasi.
Rumours were rife that the former Asante Kotoko coach was having an affair with the former girlfriend of one of his players but Hayford insists the news were malicious and a calculated attempt to sabotage him.
“He who wants to destroy me shall have destruction awaiting him at the gateway of his own success,” he said after their premier league game with Inter Allies at the Tema Stadium.
"Some of you and your radio stations will hear from me soon. Someone made allegations against me and you couldn't do due diligence before taking it on air. I am heading to court and the judge will question whether you did diligence before destroying somebody," Bashir Hayford questioned. Bashir Hayford wrote to his employers asking for '90 days sabbatical leave'.
He said his decision to request for leave is down to management transferring incessant pressure from fans to him.
"I have given management (time) to decide because there is pressure from supporters and the management will also transfer so you need to give them time to decide because when we started the league, we won the first match against Medeama. We drew the second match against Kotoko, we drew at home (against Berekum Chelsea), we went to Hasaacas and drew and nobody heard that I was a womanizer.
"Nobody heard it. It was when Dreams came and scored us and supporters -- predominantly miners came and made allegations they can't substantiate. And nobody did due diligence to see whether what they were saying were true, but the media picked it up and it came on air. Why do you stop fire with fire? You have to stop and allow the fire to burn. Now the fire has burnt with all the speed you wanted it," he said.
The 2014-15 Ghana Premier League best coach disclosed that the truth of the allegations has been been revealed, and the media houses who carried the stories lack the 'guts' retract and apologize.
"Now you've seen the snail, millipede, lizard, snakes dead in the devil's bush and some of you don't have the guts to report the truth or even come and say what we heard was not true. So I have a selected radio stations and some selected presenters to start with.
"When you go and meet the judge, tell him 'I heard it' and the judge will question you. This time, some of you are going to pay heavily."
On who the said radio stations and presenters are and when they will meet him in Court, Hayford said:
"I am collecting your voices. I have about four FM stations and I have about three presenters. I am not going there to go and stand there. They will play what you said in the court so I am not giving out any name.
"I won't mention any names. You will be there and the bailiff will come and charge you and you join countryman songo."