KOLKATA, June 18: Kolkata Knight Riders have finally decided to part ways with former Aussie coach John Buchanan after their miserable show in the second season of Indian Premier League. Starting with the "multiple captaincy’ theory that soured the Queenslander’s terms with ex-captain Sourav Ganguly, to the questionable selection of the playing XI during the tournament, the Knight Riders were in the news for all the wrong reasons. And the man most held reponsible for the debacle was Buchanan.

On Thursday, Knight Riders confirmed that Buchanan will no longer be a part of the squad although the decision was made final on Tuesday night itself. "John feels that his vision and direction for the team that he wishes to take are no longer aligned with those of the owners and franchise management, and as such he has decided to return to his coaching and corporate consulting work," stated the franchise’s press statement. Added co-owner Jay Mehta: "John Buchanan has informed Knight Riders that despite his hard work over the past two seasons, he has not achieved everything that he set out to do and has not been able take the franchise into the future as per his vision for this team. We have amicably agreed that Knight Riders will release him from his contract with immediate effect. He had a vision for Knight Riders and did not waver from it. Unfortunately, it has not brought the results that are so necessary to this franchise."

The team management, meanwhile, has kept mum on the possible replacements of Buchanan.

"There haven’t been any discussions on his (Buchanan) replacement. Shah Rukh (Khan) will be returning to India in July. So, it’s only during that time when there could be a development or two," a KKR official told this paper.

It is learnt that a senior player has expressed interest in ex-Mumbai Indians coach Lalchand Rajput to take over the reins.

coaching department. But there’s little chance of his proposal to be accepted as that player’s future in Knight Riders itself is under the scanner.