Östersund's heavy start to the season resulted in head coach Ian Burchnall having to leave his post.

The idea was that 32-year-old Amir Azrafshan would fill the Englishman's shoes, but after it was discovered that he lacks the license required to be the head coach of the Allsvenskan, he will instead have a role as an assistant until he begins an education.

Something that will take time. The next training opportunity will not be given until January.

- It's a small part 22 here. I must not be an elite coach in an elite club, which is understandable, and I will not be accepted if I do not have an elite club. It's a bit tricky, then they have their rules and I respect that, says Amir Azrafshan.

- When I came here, the first thing I said was that I do not have a Uefa Pro license. I have applied twice and been denied. Probably because there are other competent people who applied and that there is therefore no place.

Östersund's assistant coach Pero Kapcevic, who has a license, is now officially the team's head coach. Something that has been heavily criticized by the Coaches' Association's chairman Stefan Lundin.

- That you do not know the rules ... it's like with a player who is not ready to play, then you do not play him. That responsibility must lie with the club, this must be kept in mind, says Lundin to Fotbolldirekt.

Azrafshan does not want to respond to the criticism.

-I have no comments about it, the press release has been sent to the union and they have approved it. I can not comment on the Coaches' Association, he says.

Azrafshan, former assistant coach in Dalkurd during the promotion from the Superettan to the Allsvenskan, then moved on to FC Djursholm in division 4. Now he is back on the big stage again.

- Of course I understand that it is a step, I do not deny it. Of course, if you train in division 4 and it calls an all-Swedish club, you become like this: "aha, okay, what fun", of course you get flattered, he says.

It will not be a soft start immediately. Tonight, Thursday, Östersund takes on Malmö FF at home.

- To be honest, it does not matter. We will work our way and hope that it will bring results, with all due respect to the opponents.

Clip: Strömberg on Östersund's coach choice (13 July 2020)

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