Post by Rangers on Sept 27, 2003 0:11:34 GMT 8
There will be 10 teams in the S.League next season - after a four hour meeting between the league's Strategic Business Unit and all 12 current club chairmen on Wednesday night revealed that three clubs will have to bite the bullet and leave Singapore's top flight.
Three teams - Chinese side Sinchi, Japanese side Albirex Niigata and Singapore U-23 team Young Lions have been pencilled in for next year, which means that three from this year's lineup will have to jump the S.League ship.
Media speculation of the three to leave has revolved around Sembawang Rangers, Sengkang Marine and Tanjong Pagar, with the Jaguars already have declared their intention to sit out next season at the meeting.
Sembawang and Sengkang have not yet indicated their intentions, while S.League officials were keen to emphasise that the axe had not fallen over any team's head - yet.
S.League COO David Sim said: "Looking at the challenges and the issues that we are facing and the environment now, we need to make adjustments to right-size the league.
"We have decided that 10 is the right size to take us forward but the process of determining who is to leave the league is still being discussed.
"At the moment, the resources of the quality of the playing talent, available funding and fan support available to the club are being stretched and diluted."
Sim also elaborated on the criteria for the clubs that are to stay in the S.League. "One of the key considerations is a club's ability to meet its operating budget and produce a certain level of competitive balance (on the pitch).
"We don't want to have whipping boys on a shoestring budget because that is no good for the league," said Sim.
Said S.League Director of Marketing and Communications Winston Lee: "We are building on what we have achieved over the past few years. Right now we have to consolidate, strengthen in order to move the S.League forward."
Sembawang, Sengkang and Tanjong Pagar all enjoy considerable support in the S.League though and fans are unlikely to be too enthusiastic about their possible departures.
Their financial problems have been crippling though with stability at all three clubs always a worry - and their insipid on-field performances have reflected that.
Said S.League CEO Chan King Fook: "Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. The reaction of the clubs to our proposals were good - some clubs were even prepared to chip in to help others but this is not a long term solution."
Chan added that the league's lineup for next season will be decided before the end of the current season.
Three teams - Chinese side Sinchi, Japanese side Albirex Niigata and Singapore U-23 team Young Lions have been pencilled in for next year, which means that three from this year's lineup will have to jump the S.League ship.
Media speculation of the three to leave has revolved around Sembawang Rangers, Sengkang Marine and Tanjong Pagar, with the Jaguars already have declared their intention to sit out next season at the meeting.
Sembawang and Sengkang have not yet indicated their intentions, while S.League officials were keen to emphasise that the axe had not fallen over any team's head - yet.
S.League COO David Sim said: "Looking at the challenges and the issues that we are facing and the environment now, we need to make adjustments to right-size the league.
"We have decided that 10 is the right size to take us forward but the process of determining who is to leave the league is still being discussed.
"At the moment, the resources of the quality of the playing talent, available funding and fan support available to the club are being stretched and diluted."
Sim also elaborated on the criteria for the clubs that are to stay in the S.League. "One of the key considerations is a club's ability to meet its operating budget and produce a certain level of competitive balance (on the pitch).
"We don't want to have whipping boys on a shoestring budget because that is no good for the league," said Sim.
Said S.League Director of Marketing and Communications Winston Lee: "We are building on what we have achieved over the past few years. Right now we have to consolidate, strengthen in order to move the S.League forward."
Sembawang, Sengkang and Tanjong Pagar all enjoy considerable support in the S.League though and fans are unlikely to be too enthusiastic about their possible departures.
Their financial problems have been crippling though with stability at all three clubs always a worry - and their insipid on-field performances have reflected that.
Said S.League CEO Chan King Fook: "Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. The reaction of the clubs to our proposals were good - some clubs were even prepared to chip in to help others but this is not a long term solution."
Chan added that the league's lineup for next season will be decided before the end of the current season.
