PSSI chairman Nurdin Halid revealed on Monday that while Withe had yet to be officially dismissed, Kolev will take charge of the national side for the upcoming Asian Cup, which Indonesia will co-host with Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam this July.

“As far as I’m concerned, the Peter Withe matter is over,” said Halid to reporters in Jakarta.

“I admit that I have not yet given him an official dismissal letter, which I’m planning on giving him tomorrow (Tuesday), but PSSI are officially appointing Ivan Kolev as the new national team coach.

“The reason for Kolev’s appointment is that he understands the character of the Indonesian players, thus making the three months of preparation prior to the Asian Cup a bit easier.”

Kolev, 49, was in charge of Indonesia from 2002 to 2004, leading the national team to the 2002 Asean Football Championship final which they lost in a penalty shootout to Thailand, then coached by Withe.

He also took Indonesia to the 2004 Asian Cup finals but made way for the Englishman after their opening round elimination in China.

The Bulgarian, who speaks fluent Bahasa Indonesia, subsequently led Myanmar to fourth place at the 2004 Asean Football Championship before returning to Indonesia last October as coach of top flight club Persipura Jayapura.

Withe’s position has been in doubt since the Indonesians were eliminated from the Asean Football Championship last Wednesday following the team’s 2-2 draw with defending champions Singapore.