Subhash Bhowmick leaves role as East Bengal's technical director

The veteran tactician's departure comes just six months after he was brought back to the club in the role.

Subhash Bhowmick has stepped down from his post as technical director of East Bengal, less than a year after taking the helm of the club. Bhowmick, who played a big part in managing East Bengal in the Calcutta Football League (CFL) campaign, has left on good terms with the club. It has been stated that the lack of an “A” License is the reason for his departure from the Red and Gold.

Bhowmick joined East Bengal as techincal director back in March, in a bid to improve their state after a failed I-League campaign. He was influential in masterminding their good run in the inaugural Super Cup, in which they progressed into the final, before losing out to Bengaluru FC. Bhowmick was brought in as TD for East Bengal as he doesn’t have the appropriate coaching license required to manage a club in the country.

Despite roping in Spanish coach Alejandro Menendez to manage the team in the upcoming I-League campaign, East Bengal were keen to retain the services of Bhowmick as their technical director. But, after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) made it mandatory for a techincal director to have an "A" License as well, Bhowmick had no choice but to walk away.

It had been speculated that East Bengal wanted to keep Bhowmick and urged him to take up a “technical advisor” role at the club, which he respectfully declined. But, the former Churchill Brothers official has vowed to come back to help the club if they ever need him. Speaking to The Times of India he said, “It has been a wonderful and inspiring journey at East Bengal and even though I am leaving, I only wish the club success in their endeavors ahead.”

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Bhowmick was given a lot of power at East Bengal after arriving in March and was highly-influential in shaping the squad for their CFL campaign. He was also heavily involved in overseeing their training and guided head coach Bastob Roy on how the team should function throughout the state league campaign.

While he came under criticism for East Bengal only finishing third in the league, Bhowmick retained the full support of the club's management. Indeed, he’s been lauded as a “club legend” by officials and could be brought back in some role in the near future.