June 1 marked the first day of I-League champions Bengaluru FC's existence as a football club without Englishman Ashley Westwood as head coach.
Since Westwood's contract ended, the club has maintained a stoic silence. Why did they decide to part ways with Westwood? Who is now going to take over as head coach?
Insiders believe that the club and their former coach had a simple disagreement over Westwood's salary at the end of his contract on May 31. Other sources have hinted at a possibility of the club wanting to go in for a different structure to the one they have had in the last three years.
Noel Wilson, former India international and a Bengaluru resident himself, believes that Westwood's legacy is one that will make it hard for any successor.
"BFC have had some great seasons under him. There are very few Indian coaches that I can see working in the BFC system. On the other hand, if they bring in a foreign coach, then it will be quite difficult for them to know how to crack the Indian football system," Wilson told ESPN.
Early reports indicate that Salgaocar coach Santosh Kashyap, who has also served on the support staff of Indian Super League club NorthEast United, could be front runner for the vacant post of head coach.
Wilson rates Kashyap as a good coach, but believes that his relative lack of experience could count against him. Instead, he casts the net a bit wider for a potential replacement with two names familiar with Indian football.
"I think Derrick Pereira is an experienced coach. He can do the right thing since he has been all over India, other than Kolkata. David Booth is another person who can understand the BFC system," Wilson said. Pereira is the only man to have won the national league both as player and coach.
When contacted, Pereira admitted to being flattered, but played down his chances of replacing Westwood.
"What Westwood has done in Bengaluru is very difficult to replicate. Whoever follows him will be stepping into massive shoes. Winning a Federation Cup and two I-Leagues inside three years - taking that legacy forward is very difficult," Pereira said. "He has set very high standards, but I am always up for challenges."