BUENOS AIRES: Diego Maradona (pic) has accused Argentina football chief Julio Grondona of lying and team manager Carlos Bilardo of treason in a bitter tirade against the two men he believes plotted his sacking as national coach.

“Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me,” said an emotional Maradona in his first news conference since his colourful and controversial reign as Argentina coach came to an abrupt end yesterday.

“Grondona, in the dressing room after we had been knocked out of the World Cup in South Africa, told me in front of witnesses and the players that he was very happy with my work and that he wanted me to carry on.

“On our return to Argentina, things started to take on a bizarre twist and on Monday I met with Grondona.

“After five minutes, he told me that he wanted me to continue, but that seven of my technical staff could not stay. When he told me this, he was saying that he didn’t want me to carry on in the job.

“He knows that it is impossible for me to stay as coach without my colleagues.” Maradona also hit out at Bilardo who was coach of the 1986 World Cup winning team in which Maradona played a starring role.

“When we were in mourning, Bilardo was working in the shadows to get me fired,” he said.

Maradona, who took charge in October 2008, has been replaced for the time being by national Under-20 coach Sergio Batista who will lead the team for the Aug 11 friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

Before the meeting with Grondona, Maradona, whose final game in charge was last month’s 4-0 World Cup quarterfinal defeat by Germany, had made it plain he wanted to stay as long as he could keep his staff.

“I really want to stay, but it depends on Grondona,” Maradona said at the weekend.

“If they touch a hair of one of my guys, even the masseur or the kitman, I’m going.

“I want to continue the adventure but not with (just) anyone. I chose these people. I want to continue working with them.”

Media reports suggest that Grondona had vetoed that wish, triggering the end of Maradona’s 18-month spell in charge.

The decision to dump Maradona has not been entirely popular in Argentina with the public now engaging in the blame game.

Apart from Grondona, the main target is Bilardo.

“He (Bilardo) is behind all of this, there is no doubt about it,” said a close colleague of Maradona who wished to remain anonymous.

The 71-year-old Bilardo has also been fingered by the Press as the man behind Maradona’s downfall.

“The only one who came through unscathed and even strengthened from this little history of betrayal, impudence and the battles of ego and vanity is him, Carlos Salvador Bilardo,” said the daily Clarin.

“This is the same man who said in April 2009 that if Maradona was going to quit or if they were going to fire Maradona, then he should step down immediately.”

Maradona’s tenure was marked by his use of over 100 players as he grappled with various formations, a two-month ban for a foul-mouthed outburst at journalists, an eleventh hour qualification for the World Cup, and the resounding defeat to Germany.

With Maradona gone, focus has turned on the identity of his successor. One name in the frame is Alejandro Sabella, 55, who led Estudiantes to the Copa Libertadores last year.

Other potential candidates include Miguel Angel Russo (Racing Club) as well as Batista, who helped steer the country to Olympic glory in the Beijing Games in 2008.

Fans reportedly have a soft spot for Carlos Bianchi, who has enjoyed success with Velez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors, but his chances are believed to be slim due to a poor relationship with Grondona.