Pay cut? I have to ask my wife- Gor mahia Coach Frank Nutall

The blanket of comfort covering the 2015 Kenyan Premier League Champions, Gor Mahia, may be pulled off.

The sudden departure of assistant coach Bobby Ogolla last week and the revelation that dependable defender Musa Mohamed may not be renewing his contract after it expires at the end of the year has rocked K’Ogalo’s boat.

More worrying however is the news doing rounds that Coach Frank Nuttall (pictured) may leave the club he helped finish the 2015 season unbeaten after 30 matches.

It is alleged that coach Frank, who also helped K’Ogalo to win KPL Top 8, has been asked to take a pay cut by the club’s management who maintain that they can no longer afford his monthly salary of Sh600,000.

Nuttall confirmed to The Nairobian that indeed he had been approached by the club’s management.

“It is true that they (the club’s management) asked me to take a 50 per cent pay cut if I am to continue serving at the club,” Nuttall told The Nairobian on phone.

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Pressed to confirm if he would be taking a pay cut, Nuttall said: “It is not a small matter. I will have to discuss the issue with my family before I can make up my mind. At the moment, I cannot say much.”

According to unverified reports, former SC Villa Jogoo Uganda coach, Antonio Flores, could be the man to replace Nuttall at K’Ogalo.

There are reports that the Spaniard already flew into the country and signed a contract after agreeing on a salary in the neighbourhood of Sh300,000 per month.

The Spaniard who was recently axed from SC Villa Jogoo is rumoured to be willing to try and fit into Nuttall’s shoes should he leave the club.

Antonio’s success at the Ugandan club was however quickly cut short after just a few months of being in charge. He joined the club in July 2015 before he was fired in October after only registering two wins.

Gor Mahia fans will be waiting with bated breath to see what becomes of the issue amid claims that Nuttall’s relationship with senior officials in the club had degenerated almost beyond repair.

This, according to media reports, played out at the recent Kenyan Premier League Footballer of the Year Awards (FOYA) where he reportedly did not shake hands with a senior club official.

“Most of the senior officials are not happy with coach Nuttall, claiming he is too combative. They are determined to see him out, the issue of pay cut is just an excuse to fire him from the club,” a source told The Nairobian.

It was under coach Nuttall’s watch that Gor was able to survive the league by the skin of its teeth without a sponsor.

Though broke, Gor finished top in the just-ended KPL season, and as first runners-up in the Paul Kagame Cup in the region despite not having a sponsor.

There are however strong suggestions that coach Nuttall intends to continue his term at K’Ogalo, even with the financial problems threatening to cripple the champs.

Our attempts to reach K’Ogalo chairman Ambrose Rachier failed as his phone went unanswered.