East Bengal have had series of talks with Robbie Fowler, says HM Bangur

The Liverpool and Leeds United legend could be joined by Renedy Singh as an assistant coach at the Kolkata club.

East Bengal have approached Liverpool FC legend Robbie Fowler to take over the vacant managerial position at the club, club owner Hari Om Bangur has confirmed. The 45-year-old was the manager of A-League side Brisbane Roar FC and could be one of the latest big names to move from the A-League to the Indian Super League.

The Kolkata giants were confirmed to be the latest entrants for the seventh season of the ISL. The competition will begin in less than three months. East Bengal are, hence, running against time in a bid to secure the new players and support staff they want.

"We have had a series of talks with Fowler, but I cannot say 'yes' now with responsibility. I can only say Fowler can also be our coach," Hari Om Bangur said in an interview with PTI.

Bangur has assured that the announcement of the appointment of the coach could be made in a couple of days. The coach will then be selecting the players he will need.

He said, "Coach will decide the players, so we will have to appoint him at the earliest. We will make the announcement within a couple of days."

Just like their arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan, East Bengal are also set to be re-branded after joining the ISL. The club still haven't decided the name, but Bangur affirmed that everything will be made official soon. "East Bengal will be suffixed by something. We are toying with a few ideas. We want to have our identity. Everything will be clear soon," he stated.

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Robbie Fowler has had two one-year stints with Thailand's Muangthong United and A-League's Brisbane Roar FC previously. While still under contract with them as a player, he was announced as the manager of Muangthong United after the sacking of Henrique Calisto.

Meanwhile, with Brisbane Roar, Fowler finished fourth in the A-League after winning 11 of the 24 league games. He was selected as the Manager of the Month twice before the pandemic halted the A-League. Furthermore, former India international Renedy Singh might join Robbie Fowler as an assistant coach at East Bengal.