Football: Lim Chin is new S.League CEO

By Amir Yusof/Red Sports

Jalan Besar Stadium, Friday, January 6, 2012 — The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) unveiled Mr Lim Chin as the new chief executive officer of the S.League today.

Mr Lim, a former colonel and Chief of Artillery in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), also served as SAFFC chairman from 2002 to 2006. He will head a new management structure for the S.League with Mr Johan Gouttefangeas as his deputy. Mr Gouttefangeas was the previous chairman of Etoile FC which won the S.League title and League Cup during its maiden season in 2010.

The league has secured funding from Singapore Pools for a five-year period and Mr Zainudin added that the S.League will be run like a commercial company.

”I aim to run the S.League in business like fashion and hopefully these changes will encourage fans to watch the S.League matches at the stadiums itself,” said Mr Lim.

”The stadium attendances have not been as bad as made out to be,” said Mr Gouttefangeas. “In fact, judging from 10 years ago, the crowd looks similar in size. However, we hope to implement marketing strategies to further increase the volume of supporters to the games.”

In welcoming the appointments, FAS president Zainudin Nordin said: “As the CEO, Lim Chin will oversee operations of the various divisions and work closely with the key stakeholders to ensure the commercial viability of the S.League. Johan, who has experience in professional football and marketing, will be tasked primarily to broaden the market appeal of the S.League and also assist the S.League clubs in their scouting missions.”

Two overseas teams will join the S.League for the 2012 season — DPMM FC of Brunei, and Harimau Muda, the Malaysian national U-23 team.

The format has also been changed for 2012. The 14 teams will play each other twice instead of thrice to reduce player fatigue and the match schedule, which suffered from constant changes in previous seasons, will be fixed, “unless it snows in Singapore”, said Mr Zainudin.

The salary cap of $10,000 for marquee players has also been removed for this season to help clubs sign overseas stars. Marquee players will be exempt from taking the Beep test.