FAS announces S-League key appointment holders

Source

SINGAPORE - Earlier this morning the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced the appointment of the two men who will helm the S-League, tasked with taking the flailing domestic football competition forward.

Former SAFFC chairman Lim Chin has been named as the chief executive officer of the league, with former Etoile FC chairman Johan Gouttefangeas his deputy. With the S-League hit by falling crowd figures and sponsor-interest, the duo will aim to lure fans back to local stadiums and increase revenue streams of the league.

FAS president Zainuddin Nordin said: "The S-League will be run by these two gentlemen as a commercial company. It is a business unit and will be run as a business unit. Their aim is to make it a viable, sustainable success."

Winston Lee, who has balanced the role of FAS general secretary with that of the S-League CEO, will now focus on bringing the FAS strategic plan to fruition.

The FAS had also released news on S-League version 2.0.

Two new teams, Brunei's DPMM FC and Malaysia's Harimau Muda will be introduced, bringing the total number of teams in the S-League to 14.

The league will also be changed from a three-round format to a two-round system. The games will be played over three matchdays per week, with a rotating system between Thursday and Sunday.

The S$10,000 salary cap for one marquee player per club will be removed, and there will be no requirement for the player to pass the league's mandatory Beep Test.

Other announcements include a subsidy for two young foreign players per club, taking total number of foreigners to 4 in the S-League squad and two in the (reserve) Prime League, as well as the engagement of the public via social media and the launch of an iPhone app and S-League Internet TV.