RoundGlass Punjab mutually part ways with head coach Curtis Fleming

The decision was announced by Fleming on Friday and confirmed by the club on Saturday.

I-League outfit RoundGlass Punjab FC have parted ways by mutual consent with Curtis Fleming, their head coach for the recently concluded 2020-21 edition of the league. The decision was first announced by Fleming via his social media accounts on Friday.

"A mutual agreement has been reached to terminate my contract with RoundGlass Punjab FC. I would like to thank RGPFC for the opportunity to manage in India. It was an honour to lead them in their first season as a professional club. I wish the players and staff the best," he wrote on Twitter.

The club confirmed the development on Saturday morning.

"RoundGlass Punjab FC (RGPFC) announce that we have parted ways with Curtis Fleming, the head coach of the club’s first team, on mutual agreement. RGPFC wants to thank and congratulate Fleming for his significant contribution in his first season with the club. The club wishes him all the very best for his future," their official statement read.

Curtis Fleming is an Irish former international footballer. In a career spanning nearly two decades, the former full-back played for teams like Middlesbrough, Birmingham City and Crystal Palace. He has also represented and won international honours for the Republic of Ireland U-21, U-23 and senior teams. Post-retirement as a player, he took up coaching assignments at Crystal Palace, Bolton Wanderers, Queens Park Rangers (QPR), Middlesbrough and so on, before shifting base to India in 2019.

The 52-year-old was the Reserves team coach at Punjab in the 2019-20 season, before the club under their new management promoted him to the senior team role earlier in 2020.

In the 2020-21 I-League, Fleming led RGPFC in 15 matches, winning six and losing five. The remaining four games ended in draws, as the side finished fourth on the points' table. Gokulam Kerala became champions while Churchill Brothers ended their campaign as runners-up.

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