AMSTERDAM – Stabæk boss Bob Bradley is currently the managerial target of defending Tippeligaen champs Molde FK, MLSsoccer.com has confirmed.
A pair of local sources have verified Sunday night's report from leading Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang, which stated that MFK exec Kjell Inge Røkke had his sights firmly set on the former US national team coach after some initial talks. Bradley's agent, Ron Waxman, declined to comment on the situation.
Bradley, who guided the Blue Ones to a 1-0 victory at Molde shortly before the story broke, was not in much of a mood to discuss the matter following the game.
"We'll see," Bradley told VG. "You do not know what will happen, because this is football. I do not know [if Molde will make an offer]. My focus now is what's going on here [at Stabæk]."
The sources confirmed that Stabæk technical director Inge Andre Olsen has allowed Molde to talk with their manager, as he has done on previous occasions when other clubs registered serious interest. However, he is certainly not eager to see Bradley switch to a league rival.
"If he should go, I hope he gets something that is overseas," Olsen told VG. "It would be a bit unkind to face him in the Tippeligaen next year."
Back in August, Olsen divulged that Stabæk had opened discussions on a new contract for Bradley. The New Jersey native's two-year pact runs out at season's end.
One sticking point to a Molde move could be the fact that Stabæk look far more likely to earn a 2016/17 Europa League berth from the Tippeligaen table finish. They stand clear in second place with five games to go, while the holders stand nine points adrift of the last ticket to Europe in seventh place.
