PHUKET: FC Phuket is now racing against time to play its first game of the new Division One season on March 18. All it lacks is a coach, a team, and about 20 million baht.
It does have a new president, Jirayut Songyos, whose generous pledge of five million baht has earned him the post previously held by the chief executive of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, Paiboon Upatising.
Once the organisation was forced to withdraw its finanical support last year, FC Phuket's fortunes took a dive.
The club is now trying desperately to stand up, dust itself off and get on with the game. Even the fans, though, are not prepared to go too far, too fast without a transparent system in place.
About 60 FC Phuket followers met with FC Phuket officials on Thursday. The fans were each asked to find 10 people who would be willing to donate 1000 baht to help save the club.
The idea is that if FC Phuket can sign up 10,000 people who are each willing to buy an imaginary ''seat,'' then the club will be saved.
However, on Thursday FC Phuket's most fervent supporters said that they needed to be shown a transparent system first before giving their hard-earned cash in support.
The PPAO has a reputation for being totally transparent with its funding and has won anti-corruption awards for its approach.
The organisation had previously supplied FC Phuket with 1.5 million a month, but is now unable to help because of a Thailand-wide ruling that all provincial administrative organisations must not support football clubs that are run as private businesses.
The ruling also means that FC Phuket can no longer use Surakul Stadium in Phuket City as a home ground unless it pays a set fee to the organisation.
Premier League club Muang Thong United has offered to supply some players to FC Phuket for the new season but last season's squad has mostly gone in different directions.
FC Phuket officials were confident enough that the club has a future to take part in the draw this week for the Division One season, which will be the club's second season at that level.
But the March 18 season opener against JW Rangsit FC in Bangkok is a mere 43 days away.
FC Phuket needed a president, and it now has one.
The remaining things-to-do list is a long one, with a team and a coach and cash and a home ground in need of ticking. The countdown clock, however, is also ticking.
Might I be so bold as to suggest that "Ed" and his "Board" get the ball rolling and chip in with the purchase of a few "seats". Myself and several of my friends will purchase in any event if as we all hope it goes ahead. Walk and save your 1000 Baht on a 5 minute tuk-tuk ride and purchase a "seat" - money well spent and in a good cause !!!
Posted by FC Phuket Supporter on February 4, 2012 19:16
Editor Comment:
You can make that suggestion by all means but as quite a few subscriptions to Phuketwan have gone unpaid lately, we have to spend what little money we have on food and the roof over our heads. Perhaps some of those rich people who never seem to do anything for Phuket except apply more concrete to make more money will become football supporters? Judging from what we read, at least one of them could buy half a dozen seats just by not purchasing a new pair of shoes this month. Walking barefoot might make a pleasant change.