Hearts of Oak have announced Serbian trainer Kosta Papic as the club’s new head coach following the demotion of Edward Odoom to the youth team.

The experienced coach takes over for the 2020/21 season after just two games in the campaign and will be on the bench when the Phobians host Karela United on Friday.

Papic arrived in Ghana at the weekend to take over the Technical Director role but after a disappointing start to the season, which includes defeat to Inter Allies last Sunday, the club’s top hierarchy decided to had him the coaching role.

The 60-year-old Serbian was in charge of the Phobians when they last won the league in the 2008/09 season.

He will be assisted by Asare Bediako, who was appointed assistant coach in November.

After leaving Ghana following the league triumph in 2008/09, the Serbian has coached various clubs, including Young Africans of Tanzania, South African sides Black Leopards, Chippa United, Polokwane City and Royal Eagles.

He was appointed national coach of eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland) in December 2018 and left the role in December 2019.

Accra Hearts of Oak are set to appoint Hesse Odamptey as the club’s new assistant coach, Hesse Odamptey will work with Edward Nii Odoom in the upcoming season, Sahara Football understands.

Odamptey who is a former player of the club worked with the technical team under Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe administration and will be making a return to the club for a second spell.

Hearts of Oak played the truncated 2019/2020 Ghana Premier League season without an assistant coach, the club’s leadership have decided to beef up the technical team with Odamptey.

He holds a CAF licensed certificate that qualifies him to be on the bench per the Ghana FA Club Licensing rules.

The club is set to make the official announcement in the coming days.

Hearts of Oak defender Christopher Bonney has revealed that he will be joining Inter Allies on loan when the Ghana Premier League resumes.

The right-back has decided to join Inter Allies to get playing time as he is clearly not in the immediate plans of current Hearts of Oak coach Nii Odoom.

“I think if the league resumes, i will leave hearts of oak for inter Allies on loan,” Bonney told Green FM.

“Inter Allies wrote to Hearts of Oak that they need me, and I dont think it’s bad move, I am also ready to join them.”

Bonney joined Hearts of Oak in 2018 on a free transfer after leaving Ebusua Dwarfs.

Accra Hearts of Oak head coach Edward Nii Odoom, has established that his current setup is competitive enough to rub shoulders with the very best on the Africa terrain should conditions sway in their favor.

Odoom took charge of the Accra based side after the then head coach, Kim Grant was sacked following a one nil lose to Berekum Chelsea at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Since taking charge, in an interim capacity,the rainbow club have struggled for consistency, winning five,drawing six and losing three (W5D6L3) settling for 9th position on the log until the Ghana Premier League was truncated amid a Presidential directive to curb the widespread of the deadly corona virus as far back as March 15.

According to the head coach, if the conditions elsewhere playing away from home are favourable, his side will be able to give off their best but rued the effects of the coronavirus on football.

“The conditions around the Coronavirus pandemic can’t make us play in Africa. This is because you wouldn’t know the actual conditions in the country you are going to play in. You have to ensure that everyone is safe.

But when it is about playing in Africa, my team is ready but we cannot play because of COVID-19.”

Accra Hearts of Oak’s last bite on the African scene came in 2015, when they lost to Esperance de Tunis in the last round of qualifying for CAF Confederation Cup group stages.