Mehr news agency reported, from the Tractorsazi Club website: The club officials had a positive and constructive conversation with the ex Team Melli coach and based on his background and experience in Iran with 2 succesful stints , the first priority for TRACTORSAZI eill be Mr. Branko IVANKOVIC.

The Croat coach has already expressed his interest towards the tractor coaching position and is ready to come to Tabriz, however there is an outstanding problem in the way of this recruitment. Ivankovic has a tax debt of 450 million toman outstanding since the days he was working in Iran. The money had to be paid by the Football Federation but after 2006 World Cup , and the removal of Dadkan , the new administration did not fulfil the contractual obligation and the tax remained unpaid.

Jamshid Nazmi , Managing Director of Tractorsazi Club has proposed a plan to solve this problem. He has stated that this amount would be paid by the club’ to the Ministry of Finance on the condition that the footfall federation repays the amount in several payment during the season. If the FFIRI refused , then Tractorsazi has to look elswher for a coach.

Branko Ivankovic served as Assistance coach during Blazevic coaching era, then as head coach before  from April 2002 to September 2002, his second time round as a head coach started 12-Oct-2003 21-Jun-2006 when he qualified Iran to the World Cup 2006 Germany.