Hearts of Oak have, indeed, sacked Kosta Papic.
Apparently, the league leaders reached the decision on Thursday afternoon against the backdrop of the poor run of form in the second round of the league.
Hearts have won one out of their 8 matches, drawn 4 and lost 3.
Sam Johnson might take charge of that game although he is notoriously mistrusted - his tactics, that is - by much of the Phobian hierarchy.
The PRO of team said on radio that the sacking was mainly because the Serbian had taken certain 'entrenched positions' on issues.
"Hearts have not been happy with the coach's performance so we met yesterday and agreed to part company with him.
He didn't take our advice on certain issues. You have to consider that we, the Board and management know the terrain better than he ever can so his entrenched positions cost him."
It's the same thing we heard when Kotoko sacked Maurice Cooreman - that the man had left 'by mutual consent'. Later we heard he had been given the old-fashioned boot.
Hearts have said that the team did not incur any extra cost in the termination process: coach Papic would be provided with his June salary and a ticket for his return to Serbia.
Hearts has a game on Sunday against RTU so who takes charge for that game?
Commey again: "The management is in talks with other coaches to ensure that a new coach is hired before the club’s next league game."
What I'm gathering is that assistant coach, Sam Johnson might take charge of that game although he is notoriously mistrusted - his tactics, that is - by much of the Phobian hierarchy.
It is a well known fact that Papic had, before the season started, pressurized the Phobian management of Hearts to buy certain players but he had refused to use them in the course of the season.
And it has been confirmed by Commey that this 'naturally annoyed some members of the management.'
S0 who replaces Papic? Nii Noi Thompson, who led Bechem Chelsea to a fine start this season is the name on several big lips.
Let's see how that pans out. We'll talk about Papic's legacy later.
Fact file: Papic @ Hearts
*Serbian, 49-years
*Signed by former Hearts CEO Vincent Odotei Sowah
*Lasted eleven months from July 2008 - June 2009.
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