After concluding their third season in the elite futsal league in September in 5th place out of 14 teams, some Phuket United players were told by club management that the team is being sold.
Doubts were confirmed when Chalermpong “Sam” Saengdee stepped down as Head Coach.
Asked to elaborate, Coach Sam and club owner Suppachoke La-ongphet told The Phuket News that it was too early to say anything.
However, according to a source inside the club, Suppachoke, who is also owner of The Senses Resort in Patong, has reportedly been discussing the sale of the team rights to another local business group.
“The [potential] new owners don’t want details to be announced yet, but the deal would ensure that Phuket [United] would continue to play in the [Futsal] Thailand Premier League next season,” the source said.
“The new owner would need to incorporate the team as a juristic entity. Up to this point, the club has been [treated as] a provincial asset,” the source added.
Meanwhile, lacking clarity, contracts and salaries in the off-season, many of the team’s key players have already started looking at other clubs to join.
Top-gun flankman Thanakorn “Max” Piyaprichayut, who recently signed on with the Highways Department futsal club, told The Phuket News the reason why most of the players have decided to move on so soon.
“None of us want to go. We all love it here [in Phuket] and have all become close. For this FA Cup competition, we didn’t even get to train properly like the other teams. We didn’t even have a coach, but all agreed to come and train the first day of competition.”
Phuket United were knocked out in the round-of-16, losing to Nonthaburi 5-3 last Wednesday November 11, while Chonburi were crowned 4-time FA Cup winners downing Thai Port 3-2 in the final on Sunday (Nov 15).
“But the anticipation of waiting for confirmation is too much. In the mean time we don’t get to train or get a salary, whereas some other teams can offer us more stability [in the off season],” Max concluded.
Other confirmed outgoing players are as follows: Team captain Anuwat Phanopha has signed with Chonburi; National squad goalkeeper Chaleamsri Pungsri has joined Surat Thani; Thanakorn Penpakul signed with Bangkok FC and Patchaya Srimanta with Nonthaburi.
Meanwhile, several other key players are also considering offers from other clubs, including Kittipong Sonsuwan, Suttiporn Kladcharoen, Kanok Chitchiew, Puchong Chaoroensrihassana. Keerati Tosasut and Pubet Kongthong.
Also contemplating their next move, Brazilians Jackson Santos and Edson Gugu are also at risk of being scooped up if they don’t receive any clarity from Phuket United in the near future.
It is understood that Phuket United’s budget last season was around B10 million.