We all know when the cat(Richard Charlesworth)is out, the rats will have merry time. The scene is almost developing here.

Names of those who have never coached even a district team are pitching in, in the queue for the national team chief coach, as if the job is akin to eating an ice cream in a roadside joint.

Some of the soft-spoken — but silent killers of Indian hockey — are being spoken of in this context.

It would be nice if the present dispensation who will soon be deciding new chief coach will care to look at the coaching credentials of candidates before deciding anything.

They should know they are going to appoint a coach, therefore coaching credentials are more important than public image or personal equation of any person.

The following six questions are suggestd. These should be put to the prospective candidates to know whether a person is at least eligible, if not selectable, to apply for the chief coach post?

Since how many years you are coaching a team?

Names of district, state and domestic teams coached?

Names of Academy or Institutional teams coached?

Coaching courses or clinics attended?

Names of players trained who graduated to play in the Nationals, Jr. and Sr. India teams?

What are your coaching achievements (like the team trained by you winning Jr. or Sr. Nationals, major All India Grade I tournaments and medals in the international tournaments)?

It is wished that anyone who spoke – or at least expressed opinion against the disgraced former regime — should come to train the team, as it gives an idea whether they are for hockey, sincere towards the game or interested only in personal glory.

It would be nice and prudent to understand the fact that what you are looking for is a coach. Therefore, it is better to know the coaching credentials of the candidates rather than whether he or she is a former player or not. If a former player, chose coaching as a career and can reply to these six questions satisfactorily, should be welcomed.

National chief coach post should go to proven coaches, not for novices who will learn after getting the job.

Why can’t the august Selection Committee interact with present players and try to elicit their opinion also.

As of now nothing changed in Indian hockey. If the present administrators are really intersted in hockey, they should first advertise the post, giving tenure, targets, salary details

Some people now rush to coach Indian team because they know the government for the first time is going to disburse Rs.50,000 per month salary to coaches which will be in addition to their present employer’s cheque.