``Rejoining the club was a big blunder,'' a dejected Nayeemuddin told The Indian Express from Calcutta. ``But then, Bagan is a great club and has an enviable tradition. I could not resist the temptation.'' Of course, the coach had overlooked the club's reputation for dumping coaches at the drop of a hat.

Nayeemuddin will not blame the club for his plight. ``It is just one individual who was responsible for this.'' Although he doesn't want to name anyone, he believes Mohun Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra had something against him.

Like the previous time, the Dronacharya coach had no inkling of what was in store. ``In fact, I trained the Bagan players on the evening ofNovember 9. I also met the secretary, but he gave no hints.''

Nayeemuddin even held discussions with an Iranian coach regarding recruitments for Bagan. ``I returned home at 9 pm to find this letter lying on my table.'' The words were simple and straightforward: `Due to administrative troubles, we do not require your services from tomorrow'. I did not speak to the secretary after that, nor did I visit the club again,'' Nayeemuddin said in a resigned manner. His contract with the club was till March 31 next year and he never paid attention to rumours that he could well be sacked long before that. ``That was another blunder,'' he says. ``Not believing the rumours.''

Incidentally, club sources say that the coach's stand regarding foreign recruitments and his speaking to the press went against him.

``I had made it very clear to the secretary that all that appeared in the local media was not true. He had assured me that he wasn't paying attention to any of the media reports.''

Nayeemuddin, who was Indiacoach before taking up the Mohun Bagan assignment, is now thinking of setting up a junior football academy with the help of friends. ``I will start it wherever I get support.'' Of course, he will prefer Calcutta, where footballers get recognition.

Speaking about Bagan, Nayeemuddin says that things are not very rosy with the club. Some of the players have not been paid their salary for three months. ``How do you expect them to play well under these circumstances?'' He had set his aims on winning the IFA Shield to be held this month. ``I had told the boys to give me at least one trophy and we were hoping to make the IFA Shield ours this time.'' He never got a chance. ``That is my biggest complaint. I was denied the chance to prove myself.''

Bagan are not known to give chances to their coaches. Amal Dutta was dumped twice and TK Chatunni, despite fetching the National League for Bagan and repeatead assurances of another year with the team, was left out in the cold.

``It is funny the way they treat theircoaches,'' Nayeemuddin's said with a sardonic laugh.