Gov. Ihedioha Mediates Heartland Leadership Conflict; Ilechukwu Almost Done Deal

Executive Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has moved in to resolve the leadership feud between the new board of Heartland FC and the management team which has stagnated the club’s preparation for the 2019/2020 NPFL season, Completesports.com reports.

The governor recently appointed a five-man board for Heartland with Barrister Charles Ezekwem as chairman.

Similarly, Chief Chukwudi Ifeanyi was appointed by the governor as General Manager of the club.

But a clash of power soon erupted between the two eggheads over the control of the club.

Completesports.com’s checks reveal that governor Ihedioha summoned the feuding duo to a meeting where he tried to make them see reasons they must find a common ground in their duties, in the interest of the club and state.

He further gave the two top officials two weeks to resolve their differences.

“At the end of the meeting, the governor directed the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, to write a letter to the two top officials streamlining their roles,” an official who was privy to the meeting told Completesports.com.

Completesports.com understands that Heartland are finalising negotiation with former MFM FC coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu before publicly announcing his appointment as the substantive coach of the club.

“Its no longer secret that Fidelis Ilechukwu is the preferred choice of the management as the next coach of Heartland,” an official told Completesports.com.

“They are in talks and just few issues remain to be sorted out before he would be proclaimed as new coach of Heartland.”

Imo State government recently suspended the coaching crew of the club headed by Turkish man, Mehmet Tayfun and Ramson Madu.

Ezekiel Onyegbula and Isaac Mbaegbu are now in charge on stopgap arrangement, just as Charles Uzor, who had been in charge of the Heartland Team B has been elevated to the senior team as assistant coach.

Promise Nwachukwu, a former Nigeria junior international, is the Sporting Director of the club.

By Sab Osuji