U20 coach Jones sacked after Syria defeat

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) have parted ways with Under-20 men’s football team coach Gerard Jones, dismissing the Englishman within hours of a 0-3 loss to Syria in Tashkent in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers on Thursday.

The BFF has sent a termination letter to Jones date on September 4, citing the exit clauses in Jones's contract, signed only in June.

The BFF has asked Jones to surrender all federation property - his ID card, keys and documents - to team manager Sameed Quasem, and said his final dues and a flight home would be arranged.

He has additionally been barred from any contact with the squad for the rest of the tournament, with only Quasem and assistant manager Oyon Mallick exempted.

Thursday's defeat followed a 2-0 opening loss to hosts Uzbekistan, leaving Bangladesh bottom of Group B despite arriving in Uzbekistan as SAFF U-20 champions.

A win over India in their final group fixture on September 6 is now their only route to keeping alive hopes of ending a 24-year absence from the Asian Cup finals.

Assistant coach Atiqur Rahman Mishu takes interim charge for that match.

Jones' brief stint in Dhaka was marred by off-field controversies as the coach reportedly has a physical altercation with assistant coach Mishu, accused the BFF of payment delays and even claimed on social media about being fearful for his safety.