Kerala Blasters’ hopes of signing former Everton star James McFadden goes awry, as McFadden turns down the offer to rescue Blasters from peril.
Kerala Blasters players and supporters may have had a boost in their arms when the club announced that the clubs were in talks with former Scottish international James McFadden, but will be heartbroken with the news of McFadden rejecting the offer.
Kerala Blasters dire season has already seen Peter Taylora s departure from the managerial hot-seat and with Carlos Marchena injured, ita s very likely that the Blasters may well finish the season without any proper marquee manager or player.
Terry Phelan, who has been promoted from his role as technical director of the cluba s grassroots programme, doesna t have the stature of a marquee manager despite playing for Manchester City nor does he have any experience of managing any senior team.
Carlos Marchena at the start of the season was announced as Kerala’s marquee player, but the former World Cup winner has reportedly left the club due to personal reasons. Soon after the club pushed the name of Scottish international James McFadden to the media to boost the morale of the players and supporters.
The players were reportedly unhappy with Peter Taylora s insistence to continue with the 3-5-2 formation despite the poor results and struck odd among the players. Along with Marchenaa s return to Spain, the management had hoped that the signing of McFadden would provide the boost the Kerala Blasters players ahead of the second leg of league stages of the Hero Indian Super League.
The former Everton man, who earned 48 international caps for Scotland, is believed to have turned down an offer from the Kerala franchise as he was unwilling to leave his family in Scotland. The Premier League veteran, according to TOI . , was reportedly ready to represent FC Goa, who were hunting for a replacement striker in the ISL.
The Goan franchise eventually settled for Nigerian striker Dudu Omagbemi despite having McFadden in the shortlist. Atletico de Kolkata, even with the help of the famous Atletico Madrid, are finding it hard to replace their injured players due to the transfer window being closed and with November 15 fast approaching, Kerala Blasters may very well have to end the season without any proper marquee players, as replacements can signed before the 10th round.