Risky: Would Kotoko's Duncan experiment work?

Within the next week, David Duncan would be appointed coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko. Or at least that's what the press would have us believe.

Apparently, it's just a matter of time and sorting out the fine details of whichever contract is currently being tabled. Somehow, though, Duncan's appointment isn't a prospect many in the Reds' clan look forward to with glee.

Mistrust and suspicion, not a bouquet and a red carpet, awaits Duncan in the Garden City. For both fans and coach, that could hardly be a good thing.

For a fact, not everyone at Kotoko is happy and that much has been made unambiguously clear by some who matter at the club. Consider, for instance, the words of former CEO Jarvis Peprah earlier this week.

“The truth is that Duncan hates Asante Kotoko," Peprah revealed to Kumasi-based Angel FM.

“When he was in charge of Ashanti Gold and other clubs, some of the comments he made about Asante Kotoko were inflammatory. So if I was still the club’s CEO, I would never have sanctioned such a move for Duncan because he has always wished Kotoko’s downfall.”

Key among the 'other clubs' Peprah refers to in making his point is Accra Hearts of Oak, Kotoko's rivals and a side Duncan handled only last season. During his tenure with the Phobians, Duncan cooked up and sold a conspiracy theory which put Kotoko right in the eye of a storm.

It was an accusation which, quite reasonably, didn't go down too well with the Kotoko clan, not least a big-wig like Peprah.

“You remember that he complained about Asante Kotoko being favoured with respect to players being selected to the national teams and even the appointment of coaches, with respect to Maxwell Konadu and Kwesi Appiah. He spoke with bitterness and his comments almost put Konadu’s life at risk. I met him once and I drew his attention to what he was doing,” said Peprah.

And that's just one of many reasons why Kotoko faithful would rather not have Jose Mourinho take over at FC Barcelona - if you get the metaphor.

Another, albeit one less cited, is Duncan's relationship with the man he is set to succeed, the dismissed Mas-Ud Didi Dramani.

The pair were never quite chums, and not just because they spent last season on either side of a very steep divide. If Duncan's claims regarding Didi's character late last year were anything to go by, things were just a bit too personal.

‘Many people think I’m the worst coach when it comes to expressing my ideas but Kotoko coach, Dramani is the talkative,” Duncan told Jem FM, also in Kumasi. “He [Didi] always talks, talks, talks but nobody seems to notice it.”

Mind, these remarks emerged at a time Duncan wasn't even at the helm of Hearts, thus underlining just how deep his grudge against Dramani is.

Didi, for all he endured in his concluding days at the Baba Yara, still has his sympathisers within the Kotoko family, and these could be particularly hostile to Duncan.

It is for all these that Duncan, should things go south after he does join Kotoko, would be in for a torrid ride. Every move of his would be scrutinised, every error highlighted.

However you look at it, Duncan-Kotoko would be a pretty uneasy, messy, and intriguing alliance.

Sit tight. It's gonna be a helluva ride.