Dr. Prosper Ogum's eyes lit up. Not with excitement.

But with the seriousness of a man seeking to bring illumination to a semi-educated group; the many who were under the illusion that he was scared of being sacked as Kotoko coach.

"Before I came to Kotoko, I had a job abroad. I was going to accept the offer, but the great king (Otumfuo Osei Tutu II) advised me not to go. He told me he would pay whatever compensation was necessary for me to join Asante Kotoko" Ogum said in an interview with Kumasi-based Angel FM.

"If I leave Kotoko at the end of the season, I am sure that I will get offers. Both home and abroad. I won’t lack suitors. Even if I don’t want to coach, I can go back to lecturing at the university." he concluded.

The tone and language were instructive. Ogum had had enough of the tongue lashing from fans.

Steve Mukwala has been a rare spot of brigjhtness for the Porcupine Warriors this term

And there has been quite a bit from the fans who have become increasingly disappointed with Ogum and his team.

Following a 3-2 home loss to Accra Lions, the fans could not hide their frustration, venting their spleen on the team.

Since then, things have deteriorated further. Two defeats; 2-1 to Aduana Stars in Dormaa and 1-0 at home to Nations FC, have followed.

Ogum’s countenance has not improved either.

He refused to leave the touchline after being sent off by referee Nii Cofie-Gideon in the match against Aduana Stars. Television replays suggested the ball had not crossed the line, but referee Nii-Cofie Gideon awarded a goal to the home side.

Ogum would have none of that. In his protest, he said a word or two more than necessary and got himself sent off.

He was subsequently charged by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for the misconduct.

The bad press Ogum’s antics brought on the club pales in comparison to the impact of the team’s uninspiring results.

So who is responsible for the club’s March malaise?

In Kotoko’s last seven matches, they have lost six and won the other. The Porcupine Warriors have shipped in ten goals but have scored a meekly four at the other end of the pitch.

Change has been the only constant in Kotoko’s March malaise.

Only Justice Blay has played in all seven matches. The next most consistent in that period is Steve Mukwala, the club’s top scorer, with six. On no occasion in the past six weeks has Ogum repeated the same line up.

Ogum's eternal search for the right formula continues

But there is a sense of déjà vu here. At the beginning of the season, Ogum fielded six different midfield combinations in just nine matches. He kept chopping and changing in attack too.

Beyond the issues with personnel, the coaching has been less than satisfactory.

Unlike Ogum’s previous teams, the brand of football the current iteration plays is a hard sell. Heck, it is even difficult to identify. Kotoko started the season trying to build from the back. But after two wins in seven, Ogum quickly ditched the approach to a more direct style. The Porcupine Warriors have spent the rest of the season, running through different attacking and defensive concepts in a fruitless search for the right formula.

That sort of inconsistency has been counter-productive in Ogum’s attempt to build cohesiveness.

Kotoko suffered a painful 1-0 loss to Heart of Lions

But is it all Ogum's fault?

Kotoko is currently led by an interim management committee. Emmanuel Dasoberi, Kwasi Appiah, Nana Apinkra Akwasi Awua (Nkontomponiaferehene) and Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum - yes, the same one you know.

Dasoberi, per his own admission, combines his role at Kotoko with his personal consultancy and gigs at CAF, FIFA and sometimes the Ghana Football Association.

In an interview with Kessben FM, Dasoberi proudly explained how works with his laptop while on flights to work for other institutions.

Emmanuel Newton Dasoberi, Kotoko's administrative manager

The Asantehene must be lucky to have hired a man with such unique set of skills and busy schedule!

Then there is Kwasi Appiah. Just two months after signing up for the Kotoko job as the equivalent of a technical director, he was hired as Sudan's new head coach.

So of the four management members, the main football administrator does not have time for the job, the senior technical officer has left the team in the lurch and is a full time coach for Sudan, while the head coach has to double as a management officer.

That leaves Nkontomponiaferehene, a chartered accountant, as the only official with undivided attention for the job.

It sharply contrasts what was before. And by a mile.

While the Nana Yaw Amponsah administration had their failings, the management structure covered every relevant portfolio. On many occasions, Ogum has been the only football official at the club.

I am not sure this is what Otumfuor Osei Tutu II envisaged when he hired the four. But his inertia to address the current problem is itself problematic.

Yet, this is exactly how he has run the club since ascending the stool; with an astonishing degree of nonchalance.

You know this. I know this. Ogum knows this. So he has to turn the corner, before he gets turned over.