Tanjong Pagar United expected to return in Singapore Premier League

Photo credit: the straits times

The Singapore football news is here to provide the latest happenings in the world of Singaporean football in which considering as the main and popular sport in the country. Somewhere in Singapore, with only less than two months remaining until the SPL or Singapore Premier League’s start of the campaign, the story concerning Gombak United and Warriors FC has leads into another twist, following the Tanjong Pagar United reportedly on January 11, 2020 Saturday that they had applied to be allowed to have a comeback to the professional league. The so called Jaguars last played on 2014 when the SPL was still named as the S-League, unfortunately, was step aside after the year due to financial distress. Within a media announcement, team chairman Raymond Tang stated:

“The management committee of (Tanjong Pagar) is of the opinion that the club, having consolidated sufficiently following its site out since 2015, and with its prudent financial management, are now in a stronger financial position to make this commitment.”

Raymond, who took control over the team from Edward Liu last year, said at The Straits Times that a squad of estimated 17 players has already started training, however, refused to give the name of any players or its head coach, stating that the development of the side was in progress. He additionally stated:

“There’s no point naming people now anyway, because no one has actually signed a contract yet, we need the green light from the FAS or Football Association of Singapore first.”

To answer the inquiries, a spokesman from FAS verified the committee has acquired an application from the Tanjong Pagar club and that it was being evaluated and he stated:

“We will announce our decision on this matter in due course.”

While the games for the ahead season has not been scheduled, the SPL specifically will start in late February or in early March this year. The club’s statement comes two days following the FAS restated its advice for the financial issued team Warriors FC, who has the record of nine championships, are unfortunately will sit out in the upcoming new season. The Warriors FC has been plagued by debt problems since 2018 and the FAS stated on Thursday that the team has owed more than $800,000 to the staff, players, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore and the Central Provident Fund Board as of the last year. The squad, however, are still believing for a pardon and will give a detailed plan to the FAS tomorrow to stay in the SPL. The inclusion would be the proposals for the operations and a financial plan, revenue generation, and debt servicing. The club of Tanjong Pagar has been featured within the inaugural S-League season back in 1996 and raised the Singapore Cup after two years, however, they had to set aside in 2005, again because of financial problem. They have a comeback in 2011 but unfortunately surged into debt issues again and sat out for a 2nd time around. Back in 2014, the team were 9th out of 12 squads and were also runners up within the now inactive League Cup.