Dates for the Diary

Jan 17th - 23rd - 40th King's Cup

Mar 6 - Start of FA Cup

Mar 6/7 - Start of TPL

Mar 9/10 - Start of Div 1

Apr 1 - Start of Regional Leagues

Dec 1 to 29 - 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup

Special Announcment

With immediate effect, this blog will now go on hold.

Come 8 months down the line, there will be a little Druryfire running around. Names in a postcard (or comment) please. Many thanks for my lovely wife Suwanlee for putting up with me. Married one year and still going strong.

You never know, SEA Games 2029, there might just be a 'Drury' lifting that cup!

The time has now come, to put blogging to the side.

Many thanks to all you guys who have taken the time to read the blog in the past, but don't worry, i'm sure i will be back to blog again in the future. As for now, you can find me on the www.thaifootball.com forum.

Many Regards


Adam

Regional League South Division

Regional League South Division is the 3rd Level League in Thailand. It was formed in 2009 along with other four other regional leagues, all playing at the same level. The winner of each regional league enter the Regional League Championships to determine the three teams that will receive promotion to the Thai Division 1 League

League History
Formed in 2009, initally 9 clubs applied to be part of the new setup; Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phattalung, Phuket, Satun, Yala and Tartauo. Come decision day, Tartauo either failed to apply on time, or were not accepted into the new setup.

Narathiwat and Satun were the only two teams with previous experience in the Thai football league system.

Narathiwat won the first ever championship and took the Regional League championship allocation, winning the division on goal difference from Satun.

Timeline

2009: 1st ever Regional League South starts.
2009: 1 club (Phuket) enters the FA Cup
2009: 8 Clubs enter first ever championship

Championship History

Season 2009:

1st: Narathiwat
2nd: Satun
3rd: Nakhon Si Thammarat


More can be found in the new article i've created: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_League_South_Division

2010 King's Cup

Ok, no news here.

Just want to rattle a few brains and keep to the back of your minds.

When will the yearly King's Cup be played in 2010?

Normally at the beginning of the year or right at the end. So lets look at a few possibilties:

Early 2010 - Off the back of the Asian Cup qualifier against Jordan. Could be a good opportunity to bring in such nations as Denmark (again) and Sweden, who may well use games to build up for the World Cup, should give us some good match pratcice for the Asian Cup game against Iran.

Late 2010 - hopefully we will have qualified for Qatar 2011, so what better practice for that than getting a King's Cup title under out belts?

Who would you like to see appear, assuming the King's Cup is played??

Early 2010, i'd like to see us test the likes of Bahrain, lets see what is just special about them. But then again, they will have a full schedule come then (about 4games in Asian Cup to get in.)

Late 2010, 2011 Asian cup hosts Qatar, nothing better than piting off against an West Asian nation.

Personally, i'd like to see us entertain more Middle Eastern nations, we normally fall short against these nations when it matters, so maybe we should get more practice in against them?

So, i'm thinking it this already, mayeb to far ahead of myself. But i would like to know what Bryan Robso is thinking? Games, preperation or beach?

Reid's Going, who's coming in?

Ok, Ok, will he won't he, no matter what, Peter Reid has been looking for a way out. And it all happened on the day that the September issue of World Soccer had an intervew with the Thai coach and how he was liking it here.

So, who will take over?

Bar Steve Darby, who seems to have it sown (and why not, when qualifiers are not far around the corner).

In the future, we will see the likes of Tawan Sripan and Zico being out forward, but first of all they need to gain that experience and possibly even have a couple of years abroad learning different tactics and techniques. It possible wouldn't be bad to get on the coaching staff of an A-Legaue or J-League team.

The next best thing we can look for is a foriegn coach, but if this was to happen, then personally i would go for someone who knows the region well. Reid came in and had to adapt, would it benefit us if someone could just jump in and get up and running straight away? Thats not to say Reid did bad, but with games left, right and centre all the time, and with points at stake, people need to know what they are dealing with. Thats why it makes sense to hire Steve Darby as the next coach.

One other name i think highly of, is the Australian Scott O'Donnell, currently the coach of Cambodia for the SEA Games, how would he fair? Well, he knows the region and mentality, and has a bundle of enthusiasm for the game. He's young enough to get the lads motivated. So, ok, he's been in Cambodia, but he's moved the game single handly to be on a professional stance.

Another coach who could work short term would be Laos coach Alfred Riedl, again preparing for the SEA Games. Ok, he's old, and would definatly be short term, but he nows the game well and would more thnan likely jump at the chance to coach the regional powerhouse.

Phillippe Troussier, the Frenchman and former coach of Japan would come highly recommended, but the downfall would be that he would want full power from top to bottom, something that i don't think is needed in Thailand

Peter Reid set to resign

Peter Reid has reached agreement with the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) to leave his post as its national team coach to become Stoke's assistant manager, English media reported yesterday.

Peter Reid signed a four-year contract with the Thai FA last September. FILE PHOTO
"Once everything was sorted out with the Thai FA, which was important because I did have three years left on a deal there and I didn't want to upset anyone there, I was delighted to say yes and be part of it," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I enjoyed it there. The players are technically very very good. It's a great place to live in terms of the culture and the climate," the English coach said.
"But the Premier League is the greatest league in the world and I'm English through and through. Even though it was very difficult to leave, it was always my ambition to come back here and work."

The 53-year-old, who signed a four-year contract with the FAT last September, was expected to be in the dugout last night when Stoke took on Leyton Orient in the League Cup.

Reid insists he has no problem with taking on the role of a number two.
"I did the same thing at Manchester City and Everton, and the England Under-21s, so it's not a problem," he said.

"Anything to do with football I enjoy. I enjoy being involved with the players. The role is fine, it will do for me as long as I can have an impact here and help this club grow stronger."

The former Leeds and Sunderland manager added: "The club has done fantastic staying in the Premier League. We've got a battle on this season but it's important I can help the players and Tony Pulis to improve and make the club stronger - that's my job.

"Number two doesn't matter. As long as I can have some input into making this club stronger."

Stoke's interest in Reid stepped up a gear last week when Pulis contacted the former England midfielder to sound him out.

"I saw him on a social occasion and he flagged it up," said Reid.

"I was due to fly out to Dubai last Friday and I got a call in the morning (saying) could I get down here and we had a chat and we clicked. I've known Tony numerous years."

FAT secretary-general Ong-art Kosinkha said: "News from the BBC is often trustworthy."

He said the matter could become clear today after FAT president Worawi Makudi, who is in England as guest of the English FA, talked to Reid."We should get a conclusion tomorrow," Ong-art said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/22756/reid-confirms-he-leaving-for-stoke

Thailand U19 - Champions of ASEAN

Thailand Under 19's did it and lifted the Regional Youth Championship in Vietnam.

They did it the hard way, drawing 2-2 with Australia before beating them 3-2 on penalties.

On each occasion, Thailand took the lead with Australia replyign late into injury time.