East Bengal coach Subash Bhowmik, who won many a laurel for the club last season, is so angry with the interference of club officials in match strategies that he is considering stepping down from the post.

According to club sources, Bhowmik has already made known his displeasure and said he may put in his papers.

Bhowmik has told his friends that he felt insulted with the way the club officials have tried to intervene in his functioning and criticised his match strategies.

Things started going wrong between the coach and the club after East Bengal were knocked out of the Federation Cup in the second round.

Club officials are unhappy that Bhowmik chose to leave star striker Bhaichung Bhutia out of the team even when the latter was available.

The club had also failed to win the Kolkata premier league this season.

East Bengal officials have, however, refused to admit there is a difference with the coach.

"We will hear out the coach before any decision is reached by either side," club secretary Kalyan Majumder said.

But, club insiders say they consider Bhowmik as good as gone and a hunt for his replacement has begun.

"He (the coach) has even refused to meet club officials," they said, adding that the chances of things improving were very slim.

Already, former India international and long-time East Bengal player Manoranjan Bhattacharya is being spoken of as his replacement.

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