Kerala Blasters FC announced that the club have parted ways with head coach, David James on Tuesday. Currently eighth on the table, the Blasters have been the joint second-lowest scorers in the league so far this term.

Contrary to their current position, the Kochi-based club began the season on a bright note, emerging 2-0 victors away to two-time Hero Indian Super League (ISL) champions, ATK on the opening day of the season. However, that turned out to be the only time James’ team collected three points in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2018-19. Post that victory, the Blasters went on a 11-match winless streak, culminating in a humiliating 6 -1 loss to Mumbai City FC on Sunday.

Failure to take chances had become a recurring problem for the south-coast club under James this campaign, highlighted by a disappointing 6.48% conversion rate. A steady defence can at times compensate for inaccurate finishing in football matches, but the Blasters’ leaky backline meant there were innumerable problems for James at both ends of the pitch.

Heading into the winter break, the Blasters had accumulated nine points from 12 matches and are 11 points off the final playoff position. The Englishman first took charge of Kerala in the inaugural edition of the Hero ISL as a player-cum-manager. Using his expertise and know-how, James helped the Blasters to six wins and four draws on their way to the final, where they eventually lost to ATK.

James returned to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi in the winter of 2018, taking over from Rene Meulensteen who left the club after a single win in seven matches in Hero ISL 2017-18. Having learned about the league from his previous tenure with the same club, James guided the Blasters to a midtable finish, winning five and drawing three of his 11 matches in-charge of the club.