Sacked: Worrawoot pays price for winless Asian Games campaign

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Sacked: Worrawoot pays price for winless Asian Games campaign

By Lerpong Amsa-ngiam 
The Nation

 

 

Thailand under-23 coach Worrawoot Srimaka has lost his job following the team’s dismal group-stage exit at the Asian Games, Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Somyot Poompanmoung confirmed yesterday.

 

The FAT’s decision was no surprise as Worrawoot had been under intense pressure after Thailand were eliminated from the Games without a win from three games.

 

The team had been expected to reach the semi-finals, which they did four years ago in Incheon, but their failure to do so sparked widespread demands by angry fans on social media for Worrawoot to pay the price.

 

Somyot said he had met with Worrawoot on Friday, when he was asked to evaluate the Games campaign.

 

“He came to me on Friday to ask for the chance to improve his work,” said Somyot. 

 

“After careful consideration, he had shown no results which made it unable for us to give him our trust any longer. 

 

“It was necessary to ask him to stop his work with immediate effect. We thank him and his staff members for putting in a great effort. ”

 

Thailand, a three time Games semi-finalists, drew with Qatar and Bangladesh before losing to Kazakhstan, a result that confirmed their failure to qualify for the round of 16.

 

The FAT boss also called for a major reshuffle in the FAT’s approach to the coaching at the highest level. He said he had already started negotiations with the Asian Football Federation to find a full-time football director for Thailand.

 

The priority for the football director would be to prepare the national team for the AFF Suzuki Cup from November 8 to December 15 and the Asian Cup from January 5 to February 1 next year.

 

The director will also have to supervise the coaching of the under-16 and under-19 teams to prepare them for the Asian Championships in September and October respectively.

 

Current Technical Director Witthaya Laohakul is likely to be impacted by the appointment of a new football director. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/sports/30353191

 

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