I didn’t knew India could be this difficult: Charlesworth

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New Delhi, July 11:: Failure to get his outstanding salary arrears cleared and inadequate working conditions were the main reasons for India's hockey consultant Ric Charlesworth to abruptly resign from his high-profile post.

The Australian legend is extremely critical of the hockey establishment and its functioning while also threatening to take legal action against his Indian employers if his outstanding dues were not cleared.

In a strongly worded resignation letter Charlesworth said that he was convinced he could not effectively operate as an advisor as his recommendations did not carry any weight.

Charlesworth's dramatic resignation came to light only on Thursday, though he had put in his papers on June 25 after serving around seven tumultuous months in the position.

The former Australian captain also cited the "entirely unrealistic" expectations on him and the failure to give him a proper support staff as some of the other reasons for packing his bags.

"I have been working in India since 10th of December 2007, although SAI unfortunately has failed to recognise in contractual format my earlier tenure. On March 20th under duress I finally signed a contract that was far from adequate and from what was agreed earlier," Charlesworth said in his resignation letter.

"I did so in order to continue my work in the hope that things will improve in my working conditions and that I would have the opportunity to do what the original concept entailed," said Charlesworth.

"I also did so with the express promise of the IHF President and Secretary General as well as Executive director team sports that all outstanding invoices and salary arrears would be paid expeditiously. This has not proved to be the case. The history of the contract negotiations and the fact of so many unfulfilled promises is the great regret of my time in India," he said.

Charlesworth had been sent to India by the FIH, the game's world governing body, as part of a project to revive Indian hockey. However the previous IHF regime under KPS Gill did not allow him to coach the senior team and generally did not involve him with its activities.

But after India failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics the IHF, under pressure from the FIH, formally signed the contract with Charlesworth in March.