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By Amaechi Agbo

On Wednesday, former Plateau United Coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu was unveiled as new Rangers International FC of Enugu Technical Adviser.

The former Heartland and MFM gaffer signed a two-year contract with the seven-time Nigeria Premier League champions.

However, prior to his unveiling, there was a “tug of war” between Rangers and Plateau United as the letter mounted serious pressure on the 48-year-old coach to remain with the club.

Ilechukwu’s two-year contract with the 2017 NPL champions expired in June but he rejected the offer brought to his table by the Plateau United management.

Addressing the media during his unveiling in Enugu, Ilechukwu explained that he rejected Plateau United’s new offer because the General Manager, GM he worked with in his first two years with the club was removed.

He stated further that because a new GM has not been appointed by the Plateau State government, he was not ready to pen down another contract when he has no idea about who he is going to work with.

“My Contract with Plateau United has expired and they also brought new contract on my table but I have a good relationship with the General Manager of the team and he had left (the club).

“Plateau United has not announced the new General Manager of the team and I decided not to sign the new contract until I know who is the General Manager of the club. It is good you know who you are working with. A team without pilot, you are just like a conduct.

“The General Manager has a lot to do with the team. Because of that, I refused to sign the new contract with Plateau United. You cannot sign me first before the General Manager. I want to know, who are you bringing in the table because I have tried all I can to win league but it didn’t work,” Ilechukwu said

Ilechukwu replaced Abdul Maikaba who left the club in June after his two-year contract elapsed. Maikaba narrowly avoided relegating the Club to the Division Two as the end the abridged league 8th in Group B two points above the red flag zone.

And it’s obvious that Mr Ilechukwu understands the enormity not pressure and expectations before him and he is eager to deliver

“I need a formidable force to make sure we win the league. I don’t just want to be a coach who will just participate and go home, I want to win,” he concluded.