D-day as Zico contract drama drags on
Kiatisak Senamuang yesterday questioned the Football Association of Thailand’s insistence on renewing his contract by the end of today as FAT chief Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang refused to grant any further latitude to the national team coach.
Kiatisak, speaking to reporters at the unveiling of the new Thailand team jerseys manufactured by Warrix, said his legal team was still looking at clauses of the draft contract prepared by the FAT.
“I don’t understand why the contract has to be signed by Feb 28 [today]? Aren’t we allowed to suggest any amendments to the contract?” questioned Kiatisak, a former Thailand striker popularly known as Zico.
“We need to study all the terms and conditions of the contract. We will accept all workable items and reject things that sound unfeasible to us.
“It appears that the two sides are sending signals to each other. So far I have not submitted any suggestions to the FAT.
“Personally, I have no problems with anyone. The contract is not ready yet ... so what you want me to sign?
“If the signing of the contract goes beyond tomorrow’s deadline then it would be up to the association to decide the future course of action.”
Somyot, who also attended the same press conference yesterday, was adamant that it is time for the contract to be finalised and signed.
He said: “This has been going on for over a month now but no action has taken place at all.
“The FAT is ready to renew the contract. I cannot waste any more time.
“We have the second half of the World Cup qualifiers starting in March with the national team playing Saudi Arabia on March 23 and Japan on March 28.
“We don’t have much time left for preparation. If we keep wasting time, it will have a negative impact on the team.
“As I said, the FAT is ready to renew the contract with Kiatisak, but if no signing takes place tomorrow [today], then I am ready to find a new coach and staff for the
national team.
The FAT president insisted that he did not have “any conflict with Kiatisak at all.”
Somyot said: “I have been waiting for more than a month and there has been no feedback at all. If no action is taken then I will be held responsible.
“The deadline has been given because on March 5 I will travel to England to attend the Fifa Congress.”
Somyot added: “I would like to confirm that this is a very transparent contract and is open to scrutiny.
“Everyone has the right to protect their own interests, so the FAT is also keen to safeguard its interests.
“As the employer, we have defined the scope of the job and we expect the employee to work under the guidelines given to him. If that is acceptable then we can sure work together.”
Thailand are in Group B of Asia’s final qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup, and have only one points after five games.
The other teams in the group are Australia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.