Accra Hearts of Oak are due to appoint a technical director in the coming weeks with reports suggesting that former Ghana international Kim Grant could be warming up for the top job.
Despite having little managerial experience with Ghana football apart from stints with Ebusua Dwarfs and Elmina Sharks, a Hearts source told the Graphic Sports that the 46-year-old former Charlton Athletic player’s named popped up as a possible replacement for Henry Wellington after he was axed by the Phobians on June 8.
The source said Hearts’ Managing Director, Mark Noonan, had been pushing for the engagement of the Elmina Sharks Technical Director to fill the void created by the departure of Wellington, but Grant’s huge wage bill forced the Phobians club to shelve their plans.
Sources have hinted the Graphic Sports that Mr. Noonan mentioned at a stakeholders meeting last Wednesday that the club had landed the services of a technical director who was scheduled to commence work in the coming weeks.
Unfortunately, the identity of the soon-to-be-appointed technical head was not disclosed except that Mr. Noonan indicated that he could either be local or foreigner, the source noted.
However, recent media reports have indicated strongly that the one-time Technical Director of Dwarfs was the man likely to take charge of Ghana’s oldest existing club who have struggled in recent times to retain some of their top players.
Hearts insiders indicate that the club’s Board of Directors are due to meet soon to discuss the MD’s proposal for the appointment of a new technical director who is to start work soon.
Grant, who made seven appearances for the Black Stars, has held managerial positions like the head coach of English conference league side Woking Football Club in 2008, after which he worked for six years as the European senior scout for English Premier League side, West Bromwich Albion.
Before moving into management, he played for English clubs like Luton Town, Millwall, Notts County, Yeovil Town AFC Wimbledon, Scunthorpe United, among others.