Elements not interested in Richard Charlesworth continuing in India have released the media though knowing well, though it is another aspect that the letter was sent long back and Ric was considering a review of it. Any case he is coming back to India, as s2h reported earlier, in the last week of this month. It is unfortunate the government sources openly leaked the letter on the opening day of the ongoing Junior Asia Cup.

His letter of resignation

To,

Hon. MS Gill

Mr Kalmadi, President, IOA

Els van Breda, president, FIH

Director General, SAI

Mrs Amrit Bose, secretary, IWHF

Dear all,

You represent all the interests in my employment in India and therefore this letter is addressed accordingly. I have now been working in India since the 10th of December 2007 although SAI unfortunately has failed to recognize in contractual format my earlier tenure. On March 20, under duress, I finally signed a contract that was far from adequate and from what was agreed earlier.

I did so in order to continue my work in the hope that things would improve in my working conditions and that I would have the opportunity to do what the original concept entailed. I also did so at the express promise of the IHF president and secretary general as well as the Executive Director, team sports that all outstanding invoices and salary arrears would be paid expeditiously. This has not proved to be the case. The history of the contract negotiations and the fact of so many unfulfilled promises is the great regret of my time in India.

Quite explicitly, in the early negotiations (and even in my present contract, flawed as it is) it was agreed that my focus should be on the top end of the game. Unfortunately, to satisfy the need to address other problems in game development, facilities and coach education and training there was enthusiasm for me to deal in all these areas.

The reality is that full time positions are essential in addressing the women, the men, the junior team, development and coach education. The expectations of my position have been entirely unrealistic. Given no support staff, impossible traveling and living arrangements, no tools of trade or freedom to act, the whole thing has proved very difficult if not impossible. All these things had been promised.

I am not crying foul as I knew that India would be difficult… I just did not believe it could be this difficult. I still have no computer, no employer provided phone, no efficient capacity to plan and book travel and I remain unpaid for many months with considerable personal expenditure un-remitted and have suffered unnecessary separation from my family.

Equally, I have been frustrated with the inadequate working and living conditions and with very little support. Recent events in the administration of the game in India have offered some hope but also increased uncertainty. Arrangements are erratic and there is no capacity for flexibility in the present system. My emails to staff in the SAI and Federations are testimony to this. The fact that they were only erratically answered goes to the work practices of staff or perhaps the difference in the working arrangements between India and other places.

Notwithstanding this difficult situation I have fulfilled the conditions of the contract and according to its parameters am offering my resignation effective from today. While I have been offered the position of National Coach informally there seems to be little enthusiasm for putting in place the necessary support such as position needs, and as such, this is not a proposition that makes sense. If India believes it can resurrect its fortunes without matching the practices of successful nations it will be a remarkable feat. An outline of the budgetary detail required in a quality programme has been outlined to the IOA already.

I will fulfill the statutory one month as outlined in my contract. You can contact me so that we can work out what should happen there. During that time, I will be able to finalise any details regarding my work so far and the requirementrs of my contract. I reserve the right to claim the outstanding amounts are owed to me by the SAI and the IHF for my work in India over the last seven months. This will likely entail legal action in order to be compensated for that which is owed and for the opportunities foregone to come to India.

As I have pointed out many times I do not believe that India can afford to change slowly or that it can, without a paradigm shift, generate the resources and energy to reorganize the game at the highest level. My ‘Observations and Recommendations’ paper goes directly to these points. I am happy to make it available to you with my other reports when my financial arrangements have been finalized satisfactorily. A range of my reports have already been forwarded.

It is with regret that I take this decision as I believe India can be a great power in the game again and indeed I would love for them to become a power again. The FIH supported this project sharing the same view but sometimes the reality on the ground is too overwhelming and without any glimmer of change on the horizon I make this decision. I believe that I am left with no other choice as things stand.

Sincerely Yours,

Richard Charlesworth