Standby for S-League version 2.0

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As a new football landscape looms, FAS chief Zainudin wants to bring the fans back next year.

SINGAPORE - Since 1994, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) have concentrated on developing the country's own professional league and producing a steady stream of local talent to thrive in the competition.

Then came the announcement last month that a Singapore team would return to battlegrounds north of the Causeway next year, after a deal was struck with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

With the Singapore Lions - mostly made up of under-23 players, with five seniors and two foreigners - set to battle in the M-League, Malaysia Cup and the Malaysian FA Cup, the S-League, which has been at the forefront of local football for the last 15 years, could be hit hard.

This will be so even with Malaysia's under-23 team set to play in the S-League, Singapore Cup and League Cup from next season as part of the deal.

Expecting a shift in the balance of football here, FAS president Zainudin Nordin has set up a taskforce that will look into ways to boost the domestic league.

Speaking to Today, Zainudin said: "The intent is for us to continue to strengthen the S-League ... to move forward with the new landscape.

"Our most immediate milestone is in preparation for next season: To make next season better, something which I would like to call S-League version 2 - making it attractive and bringing people back to the stadiums."

The taskforce met for the first time on Aug 12, and they have already garnered feedback from the football fraternity. An online survey has also been put up on the sleague.com page, looking for fan input on how the league can improve.

The FAS chief revealed three key areas his taskforce will look at: To bring fans back to the game, and improving the quality of football and stadium facilities so as to create a conducive environment for the enjoyment of the game.

"These are the three areas we'll look deeper into ... and while there is no immediate timeline, whatever we can do immediately to make next season more exciting, we will put in place," he vowed.

Today understands that various ideas have been brought to the table, from refreshing the S-League with new foreign teams to merging local sides to ensure a bigger pot from the FAS subsidies.

Some have called for better quality foreign players, and there have also been suggestions to split the S-League into two tiers for the introduction of a promotion and relegation system.

Already, clubs in the S-League are feeling the strain.

Profits from the fruit machines, which contribute up to 80 per cent of their revenue, has fallen with the presence of the two integrated resorts and implementation of the new Private Lotteries Bill this year.

The Business Times recently reported that three social clubs have closed down their fruit machine operations, with the rest reporting an average 35 per cent to 40 per cent drop in takings.

Zainudin has surrounded himself with football minds and money-men in the taskforce line-up in an effort to improve the S-League.

"(The people in the taskforce) are of course stakeholders in Singapore football, they have experience, some with marketing backgrounds, people who are passionate about the game, former players and those on the (FAS executive) council," he said.

"We want to ensure the S-League continues to be strong, a platform to grow local talent ... and that the ideas we bring in are doable, with implementation done properly."

Results of RHB Singapore Cup q-finals, 2nd leg:

Albirex 2 SAFFC 2 (Albirex advance 5-4 on penalties)

Home United 0 Tampines 0 (Home advance 4-2 on penalties)

Possible ideas to freshen up the S-League

1. New foreign teams

2. Merging local clubs

3. Bringing in quality foreign players

4. Splitting the league into two tiers

5. Introduction of promotion and relegation