Kumasi Asante Kotoko coach, Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie has denied rumours that he is behind the club’s decision not to retain Abdul Karim Zito.

Reports point to the former national coach as masterminding Zito’s departure from the club.

Kotoko last week decided there will be no contract extension for Karim Zito.

Zito’s one-year contract with the club elapsed at the end of the season.

Karim Zito took up the head coach position at Kotoko in an acting capacity when Malik Jabir was relieved of his duties.

His position was however taken over by coach Emmanuel Afranie when armed robbers injured him in an attack.

And the management of Kotoko said the former Feyenoord assistant trainer is free to return to the Fetteh side.

“I don’t hate Zito, the board has just asked that he reverts to his former club and who am I to overturn their decision,” Afranie said.

But the Public Relations officer of Kotoko, Jarvis Peprah, told Joy Sports the decision is to give the head coach of the club a free hand in electing his assistant.

“We want to give coach Afranie the chance, the freedom to decide who his assistant should be and that is why we are not renewing Zito’s contract.

”But if Afranie decides to take Zito to assist him, he would have to talk to Feyenoord to see what comes from their end,” Jarvis said.