PHUKET: FC Phuket has won financial support of two million baht a month to ensure the holiday island team can pursue a full season in Division One, officials revealed yesterday.
The money will come from Premier League club Muang Thong United, FC Phuket's powerful backer. As well as keeping the cash flowing to meet salaries and expenses, Muang Thong will also continue to loan nine contracted players to FC Phuket.
The island club has 16 signings of its own, providing a playing squad of 25, and a new manager, Narubet Ayurapong, to replace Jirayut Songyot, who resigned earlier this month.
Khun Narubet told Phuketwan yesterday that FC Phuket's hopes remain high for the rest of the club's second season in Division One, even though there has been only one victory and three draws so far in the first five matches.
One of FC Phuket's continuing obligations remains for the care of Camara Ahmed, an Ivory Coast import who helped inspire the club during its campaign for promotion from Division Two.
Ahmed collapsed from a heart attack on the pitch in a home game at Surakul Stadium - a dramatic event that was replicated recently in Britain's Premier League when Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba fell criticially ill.
For Ahmed, the road back to full recovery from intensive care remains a struggle. FC Phuket continues to cover their player's ongoing costs of about 100,000 baht a month and now hopes to be able to find 1.1 million baht to send him home.
Ahmed suffered a setback and needed to be admitted at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City again last month. The bulk of the cost in transferring Ahmed home is in the need to provide an accompanying nurse and a doctor.
The money will come from Premier League club Muang Thong United, FC Phuket's powerful backer. As well as keeping the cash flowing to meet salaries and expenses, Muang Thong will also continue to loan nine contracted players to FC Phuket.
The island club has 16 signings of its own, providing a playing squad of 25, and a new manager, Narubet Ayurapong, to replace Jirayut Songyot, who resigned earlier this month.
Khun Narubet told Phuketwan yesterday that FC Phuket's hopes remain high for the rest of the club's second season in Division One, even though there has been only one victory and three draws so far in the first five matches.
One of FC Phuket's continuing obligations remains for the care of Camara Ahmed, an Ivory Coast import who helped inspire the club during its campaign for promotion from Division Two.
Ahmed collapsed from a heart attack on the pitch in a home game at Surakul Stadium - a dramatic event that was replicated recently in Britain's Premier League when Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba fell criticially ill.
For Ahmed, the road back to full recovery from intensive care remains a struggle. FC Phuket continues to cover their player's ongoing costs of about 100,000 baht a month and now hopes to be able to find 1.1 million baht to send him home.
Ahmed suffered a setback and needed to be admitted at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City again last month. The bulk of the cost in transferring Ahmed home is in the need to provide an accompanying nurse and a doctor.
