Panaji: Derrick Pereira has emerged as the leading candidate to take over the India under-23 football team and guide them at the AFC Championship qualifiers in March.

Former national coach Stephen Constantine was in charge of the under-23 squad as well. But his sudden resignation following India’s group stage exit at the Asian Cup 2019 has prompted the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to look for a new man in charge.

Derrick, currently technical director at FC Goa, the Goan franchise in the Indian Super League (ISL), has won many admirers within the AIFF and is the favourite to get the job. His role as technical director at FC Goa also gives him the freedom to take leave from his employers for a couple of months and focus on the under-23 team.

“At this point of time, we are considering various options. Nothing has been finalised yet. We will take a decision by the end of this month,” said AIFF general secretary Kushal Das.

India has a dozen-odd coaches with Pro Coaching Licence but the more established ones -- Khalid Jamil (Mohun Bagan), Thangboi Singto (Kerala Blasters), Stanley Rozario (Aizawl FC), Naushad Moosa (Bengaluru FC), Sabir Pasha (Chennaiyin FC) -- are busy with club engagements.

The AIFF has ruled out appointing a foreign coach for the under-23 assignment in Uzbekistan.

“Derrick has close to two decades of coaching experience and has handled young players well. He has the stature and, if you look at his previous assignments, he is known to develop young players. Having proved himself with clubs like Mahindra, Salgaocar and FC Goa, it’s time for him to move up the ladder,” said one official.

The AIFF’s initial plan was to hand over the team to S. Venkatesh. The former international was assistant to Constantine at the Asian Cup and knows the junior players in the team better than most coaches. However, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has made it clear that national and under-23 coaches need to mandatorily have a Pro Coaching Licence, while Venkatesh only cleared his B licence last year in Goa.

The AIFF was hoping that the AFC would provide them with some relaxations but sources said that is unlikely to happen. When AFC officials meet the participating teams on January 31, they are expected to tell “exemption seekers” like India that only coaches with a big profile, or those who have applied for their Pro Licence, will be considered.

“Venkatesh will surely be part of the team. In what capacity, that will depend on the AFC,” said Das.

India are placed in group F for the AFC U-23 qualifiers along with Pakistan, Tajikistan and hosts Uzbekistan. India kick off their campaign against Tajikistan on March 22, then face Uzbekistan on March 24 before taking on Pakistan in the concluding league clash two days later.

