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I-League champions Bengaluru FC and coach Ashley Westwood have decided to part ways with mutual consent, following the end of Westwood's contract. Westwood, 39, was the first coach for the Bengaluru-based team when they were formed in 2013. He guided them to an I-League title in their debut season, in 2014. "I am extremely proud of my time and achievements during my tenure at BFC," Westwood said. "I came to the country with a blank canvas, tasked with helping to build a club from scratch, improve Indian football and to try to produce some players to go on to represent the country. I feel with three major trophies, multiple 'Coach of the Year' awards and developing as many as 10 players to go on to represent India across different ages, I have achieved all of my objectives." Westwood also won a Federation Cup in 2014-15, and finished second in the I-League last year, losing out to Mohun Bagan in the season finale. Bengaluru, however, reclaimed the I-League crown in 2016, and have also progressed to the quarterfinals of the AFC Cup, which they will resume playing in September. "We would like to thank Ashley for what has been a phenomenal three years with the club," Parth Jindal, the CEO of Bengaluru FC, said. "His work ethic and desire to succeed during his tenure has been second to none and the role he has played in putting BFC on the football map will always be a part of the club's history. He will always be welcome at BFC. We wish him all the best for the future and I am sure he will move on to bigger leagues successfully."
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