Post by Rangers on Sept 28, 2003 2:53:58 GMT 8
Sim is confident that revamp will increase local football standards
by Stanley Ho
stanley@newstoday.com.sg
First it was China's Sinchi FC.
.
Next season Albirex Niigata of Japan will be the second foreign club challenging for the S-League championship.
.
And according to chief operating officer David Sim, negotiations are underway for three more foreign clubs — from China, Thailand and Australia — to take part in the Singapore Cup next season with the view of them joining the S-League in the near future.
.
Speaking on Friday about the overhaul of the S-League for next season, Sim said the move to attract more foreign-based clubs competing in Singapore is a surefire way of improving the standard of football in the country.
.
Said Sim: "Look at it this way. This is the best opportunity for our local players to play against international opponents week in, week out. Instead of sending our players overseas, we now bring these foreign teams to our shores to spar with our local players. That will surely improve the standard of football in Singapore."
.
Having already announced last Wednesday that the S-League would be trimmed from the current 12 to 10 teams for next season, Sim is aware that the football authorities will be in for criticism that local clubs are being sacrificed for foreign entities.
.
But he said: "We have to go regional. We need some foreign flavour as our market is too small.
.
"The introduction of foreign teams can only bring advantages in terms of market exposure, fan interest and the quality football."
.
But, while not exactly a flop, Sinchi has hardly lit up the S-League with its performances this season.
.
And with Japanese side Albirex sending only a second-string team of youngsters next season for match exposure, how sure is Sim that such clubs will actually increase the standard of play in the S-League?
.
"These foreign teams know the stakes involved in getting good results," he insisted. "They are accountable to their sponsors. They are playing in Singapore to win, not to drag their reputations down the drain.
.
"They know the implications of failure."
.
With two foreign clubs and the continued participation of the Singapore under-23 side, the reduction in the number of teams for the 2004 S-League season means three local clubs have either to merge with other teams or sit out altogether.
.
As reported by this newspaper two months ago, several S-League clubs are in the red.
.
Most owe the Singapore Sports Council six-figure sums in stadium rental.
.
Tanjong Pagar United and Sembawang Rangers have also been slapped with court orders last month for failing to contribute to their employees' Central Provident Fund.
.
Sengkang Marine had to cede control of its finances to an independent administrator after consultation with the S-League.
.
While Tanjong Pagar has volunteered to sit out, no other club has given an indication that it will merge or follow the Jaguars' example.
.
But ultimately, the fallout could mean that as many as 120 players and officials could be out of football.
.
"Players who are unable to secure a job at an S-League club next season should seriously consider a career move. Maybe they are really not cut out for professional football," said Sim, not mincing his words.
.
"At this moment, the league is stretched in every aspect," he added. "Too many clubs are chasing too little money, too many teams are going for too few good players and coaches, too many matches receiving too little fan support and too few good facilities to improve local football.
.
"I'm confident that after restructuring, next year's S-League will be stronger. Financially, fewer clubs mean that there will be a bigger share of the pie.
.
"The football standard will also improve as there will be stiffer competition for places. The huge disparity we're seeing now between the top half and the bottom half of the league will be narrowed."
.
There were a lot of unhappy clubs at the announcement on Wednesday. Many wanted the S-League to remain as it is.
.
One club chairman even accused Sim of throwing eight years of the S-League away in a single stroke.
.
But Sim defended the changes when he said: "In the eight months I've been in the job, I've looked at all possibilities.
.
"After looking at the statistics, we concluded that we have to right-size the league in order to move forward. All these problems facing us now will not go away unless we take drastic steps to rectify them."
.
Sim said he tried to encourage the struggling clubs to merge with the stable sides from the same geographical region, but said there was considerable resistance.
.
"I told the chairmen, 'If you want to save your brother, carry him. But no, they were unwilling to merge. I don't think many clubs are willing to underwrite the outstanding debts of the struggling clubs."
.
Sim was adamant that restructuring is not just about managing a crisis, but about self-renewal, ensuring long-term survival and sustainability.
.
"Good organisations that are built to last have to face the brutal facts and go through changes.
.
"We have to do something now or the authorities will come in and do it for us," warned Sim.
.
All the clubs have been given till mid-October to present their case. Only the eight strongest clubs in terms of financial stability, a sound operating budget and solid management will stay in the S-League.
.
So what's going to happen to the excluded clubs and their outstanding debts?
.
"There are several proposals and packages the S-League is looking at to help clubs settle their debts," said Sim.
.
"We can look at giving these clubs 'Parachute payments' to help them settle a part of their debts. We'll also be helping these clubs negotiate a scheme of repayment with their creditors.
.
"We encourage these clubs to carry on their COE programmes and soccer clinics so that they can continue to produce players.
.
"When the S-League introduces a transfer market next season, these clubs can then sell their players to S-League clubs and make some money. That will help them repay their outstanding debts."
.
Is there a way back for the excluded clubs?
.
"Two or three years down the road, when the situation changes and we can afford a bigger league, we may well have 12-15 teams on board," said Sim.
by Stanley Ho
stanley@newstoday.com.sg
First it was China's Sinchi FC.
.
Next season Albirex Niigata of Japan will be the second foreign club challenging for the S-League championship.
.
And according to chief operating officer David Sim, negotiations are underway for three more foreign clubs — from China, Thailand and Australia — to take part in the Singapore Cup next season with the view of them joining the S-League in the near future.
.
Speaking on Friday about the overhaul of the S-League for next season, Sim said the move to attract more foreign-based clubs competing in Singapore is a surefire way of improving the standard of football in the country.
.
Said Sim: "Look at it this way. This is the best opportunity for our local players to play against international opponents week in, week out. Instead of sending our players overseas, we now bring these foreign teams to our shores to spar with our local players. That will surely improve the standard of football in Singapore."
.
Having already announced last Wednesday that the S-League would be trimmed from the current 12 to 10 teams for next season, Sim is aware that the football authorities will be in for criticism that local clubs are being sacrificed for foreign entities.
.
But he said: "We have to go regional. We need some foreign flavour as our market is too small.
.
"The introduction of foreign teams can only bring advantages in terms of market exposure, fan interest and the quality football."
.
But, while not exactly a flop, Sinchi has hardly lit up the S-League with its performances this season.
.
And with Japanese side Albirex sending only a second-string team of youngsters next season for match exposure, how sure is Sim that such clubs will actually increase the standard of play in the S-League?
.
"These foreign teams know the stakes involved in getting good results," he insisted. "They are accountable to their sponsors. They are playing in Singapore to win, not to drag their reputations down the drain.
.
"They know the implications of failure."
.
With two foreign clubs and the continued participation of the Singapore under-23 side, the reduction in the number of teams for the 2004 S-League season means three local clubs have either to merge with other teams or sit out altogether.
.
As reported by this newspaper two months ago, several S-League clubs are in the red.
.
Most owe the Singapore Sports Council six-figure sums in stadium rental.
.
Tanjong Pagar United and Sembawang Rangers have also been slapped with court orders last month for failing to contribute to their employees' Central Provident Fund.
.
Sengkang Marine had to cede control of its finances to an independent administrator after consultation with the S-League.
.
While Tanjong Pagar has volunteered to sit out, no other club has given an indication that it will merge or follow the Jaguars' example.
.
But ultimately, the fallout could mean that as many as 120 players and officials could be out of football.
.
"Players who are unable to secure a job at an S-League club next season should seriously consider a career move. Maybe they are really not cut out for professional football," said Sim, not mincing his words.
.
"At this moment, the league is stretched in every aspect," he added. "Too many clubs are chasing too little money, too many teams are going for too few good players and coaches, too many matches receiving too little fan support and too few good facilities to improve local football.
.
"I'm confident that after restructuring, next year's S-League will be stronger. Financially, fewer clubs mean that there will be a bigger share of the pie.
.
"The football standard will also improve as there will be stiffer competition for places. The huge disparity we're seeing now between the top half and the bottom half of the league will be narrowed."
.
There were a lot of unhappy clubs at the announcement on Wednesday. Many wanted the S-League to remain as it is.
.
One club chairman even accused Sim of throwing eight years of the S-League away in a single stroke.
.
But Sim defended the changes when he said: "In the eight months I've been in the job, I've looked at all possibilities.
.
"After looking at the statistics, we concluded that we have to right-size the league in order to move forward. All these problems facing us now will not go away unless we take drastic steps to rectify them."
.
Sim said he tried to encourage the struggling clubs to merge with the stable sides from the same geographical region, but said there was considerable resistance.
.
"I told the chairmen, 'If you want to save your brother, carry him. But no, they were unwilling to merge. I don't think many clubs are willing to underwrite the outstanding debts of the struggling clubs."
.
Sim was adamant that restructuring is not just about managing a crisis, but about self-renewal, ensuring long-term survival and sustainability.
.
"Good organisations that are built to last have to face the brutal facts and go through changes.
.
"We have to do something now or the authorities will come in and do it for us," warned Sim.
.
All the clubs have been given till mid-October to present their case. Only the eight strongest clubs in terms of financial stability, a sound operating budget and solid management will stay in the S-League.
.
So what's going to happen to the excluded clubs and their outstanding debts?
.
"There are several proposals and packages the S-League is looking at to help clubs settle their debts," said Sim.
.
"We can look at giving these clubs 'Parachute payments' to help them settle a part of their debts. We'll also be helping these clubs negotiate a scheme of repayment with their creditors.
.
"We encourage these clubs to carry on their COE programmes and soccer clinics so that they can continue to produce players.
.
"When the S-League introduces a transfer market next season, these clubs can then sell their players to S-League clubs and make some money. That will help them repay their outstanding debts."
.
Is there a way back for the excluded clubs?
.
"Two or three years down the road, when the situation changes and we can afford a bigger league, we may well have 12-15 teams on board," said Sim.
