Walsh, Oltmans get Hockey India League contract papers, not to draw SAI salary

The controversy over High Performance Manager Roelant Oltmans and national men’s head coach Terry Walsh taking up roles as coaches of Hockey India League franchises – Uttar Pradesh Wizards and Kalinga Lancers - seems to have died down with Hockey India – the organizers of the Hockey India League - giving the duo contractual papers for them to take up the HIL assignments, but with “no cost to the Sports Authority of India”.

It may be noted that the move to involve the duo in the HIL did not go down well with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), who hired them for national duty with a handsome salary packet.

SAI’s contention was that they are paid to do a national job and cannot be associated with any other assignment having monetary gains. SAI felt that the duo can serve the national team better by spotting talent in the high-profile league and work towards enhancing the supply line for the national team.

What will be some consolation for SAI is that Walsh and Oltmans will not draw salary for the said period from SAI and instead would be paid by Kalinga Lancers and Uttar Pradesh Wizards, their respective franchises.

Interestingly, there is a clause in the duo's contracts with SAI which states these coaches can be freed from national duties for FIH-sanctioned competitions conducted by Hockey India at no cost to government.

It may be pertinent to mention that SAI did not allow the previous coach, Michael Nobbs, to take up any “commercial contract” last season for the reason that his contract had no mention regarding the outside assignment.