Having failed to reach an agreement with a foreign head coaching candidate for its men’s national football team, South Korea will take a coaching-by-committee approach for two upcoming friendly matches, the sport’s technical director said Monday.

Lee Yong-soo, head of the technical committee at the Korea Football Association, held a press conference to offer details on the KFA’s failure to come to terms with Bert van Marwijk. The Dutchman had been in negotiations with the KFA to become South Korea’s new head coach, but Lee said the two sides couldn’t narrow their differences.

With the clock ticking down as South Korea prepares to host Venezuela on Sept. 5 and Uruguay on Sept. 8, Lee said three South Korean coaches will serve on the bench in lieu of a head coach. Lee said Shin Tae-yong, a former head coach in the top-flight domestic competition, the K League Classic, will be joined by two assistants from the previous regime, Park Kun-ha and Kim Bong-soo.

“We will keep trying to hire a head coach of foreign nationality,” Lee said. “In the meantime, we will prepare for the two September matches with the three coaches.” (Yonhap)