ENUGU State Sports Commissioner, Mathew Idu, says that the reported sack of Rangers' coach, Christian Chukwu, is null and void, stating that the board erred in carrying out that decision.

Idu said the board has no right to take such a decision without consulting with the state government, which appointed the members to their positions, adding that they had no right to sack the former national coach of Kenya. An angry Idu told The Guardian that he was surprised that board members could decide on such a matter in the absence of their chairman, Peace Onyishi, who was out of the state when the board met to sack Chukwu.

"I was conducting members of the FIFA inspection team round the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium when the secretary of the board brought a copy of the letter sacking Chukwu to me," he said.

"It was a big surprise because we never discussed it. They just sat and decided to take such a monumental decision. It is wrong. We should do things the right way. I am the sports commissioner and I believe that certain actions should be brought to my knowledge before they are carried out."

Reacting to Chukwu's sack, Rangers' Chairman, Peace Onyishi, said it was an internal matter that would be resolved amicably. According to Onyishi, the issue of Chukwu's sack is a sensitive matter that must be handled carefully to ensure that it does not derail the team's quest to reclaim its top position in Nigerian football.

"As a board member, I cannot dispute the decision of the board. It is not right. But I want to assure supporters of Rangers that the issue would be resolved amicably so that we can move forward. There is no victor, no vanquished because Chukwu will retain his job."

Onyishi added: "We cannot blame Chukwu for Rangers' failure last season because a lot of things militated against the team. You know we had no home last season. We only played one match in Enugu throughout the season and you know what home ground means in Nigerian football, yet we finished in the sixth position. So, will you blame the coach for not winning the league?

"All the other teams had advantage over us, but we still managed to finish among the top teams. We are looking into the issue to see that we all come together to work in the interest of Rangers."

He disclosed that the board was tackling the issue of a befitting home for the club, adding that Rangers was building a stadium close to its camp in Enugu. He said: "If we cannot finish the stadium before the league kicks off, we may have to use the Akanu Ibiam Stadium, Nsukka, for our home matches so that we will be on equal footing with the other teams."

Rangers placed sixth on Globacom Premier League table behind Niger Tornadoes, Warri Wolves, Enyimba, Heartland and Bayelsa FC to miss out on continental competitions.