The team bearing the FC Phuket name will now be relocated to Bangkok after FC Phuket chairman Nauruebat “Ko Lek” Ayupong sold the club to Muang Thong United.
Muang Thong United also owns Siam Sports, who bought another football team called Rose Asia United last year.
Rose Utd didn’t play in Division 2 BKK last year, but the team exists, with stadium and all, and it now appears that Rose and FC Phuket will be merged and renamed to form a new side.
That side will then serve as a place for Muang Thong United to develop their B footballers and prepare them for the Thai Premier League.
The sale will not spell the end of football in Phuket though. Ko Lek is already working to form a new local side which will compete in the Division 2 Southern competition next season.
It appears several of the players were well aware of the news in advance and have already begun making decisions for the future. Kone Adama, Phuket’s star striker in the 2011 season, flew to Myanmar on Monday where he will play next season.
Players Nene Bi, Abdoul Coulibaly and Boubacar Issoufou extended their contracts until the end of January, but their futures beyond that are unclear.
Nene said he might stay in Phuket with the new Division 2 team if he gets the salary he asks for.
Abdoul and Boubacar could go to play for Muang Thong United.
Thai footballers on loan from Rajpracha like Niran Panthong, Tameezee Hayeeyousoh, Wiratrot Chanteng and Seksit Srisai will return to their respective teams.
Others have already started looking for new teams, while local players are likely to remain in Phuket.
There are already rumours that star midfielder Sarach Yooyen might be signed on to play in Bangkok with the new D1 team.
It was also revealed that coach Somphong Wattana, who claimed he missed the last two games due to illness, has in fact been back in BKK working his regular day job at the Thai Port Authority Administration Office.
The new season is likely to start in late February or early March, with full plans for Phuket’s footballing future likely to become clearer as this month progresses.