FAT Peter WITHE THAW

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Wednesday January 22, 2003

THAILAND'S FAT Want Withe Under Certain Terms

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) continues to conduct their business in nerve-racking fashion regarding giving coach Peter Withe a new contract.

Since our FAT FREEZE WITHE story last week the Bangkok Post reported that the FAT received numerous complaints from Thai people urging that Withe's contract be renewed. The FAT have now changed their stance and the situation is in the thaw out stage..

The FAT now says they will give Withe a new contract under certain conditions. His one-year agreement expired earlier this month after his squad won their second consecutive Tiger Cup title in December.

During his four years at the helm he has raised them from a disgraced team. The Thai squad tried to lose a match against Indonesia in the 1998 Tiger Cup to a team that defeated Korea, Arsenal, won two Tiger Cups, two Sea Games and finished 4th in the 1998 & 2002 Asian Games.

During the controversy the former Aston Villa/England striker was in England giving a coaching clinic. He has since returned. The Bangkok Post reported Withe said no details have been discussed with him.

Withe is reported to have received 400,000 baht a month (US $9,302). He took a 25% pay cut to sign his last one-year agreement that followed an inaugural three-year deal. A new pact brings stipulations should Withe agree.

The FAT's has been displeased with the coach about matters that have nothing to do with football. It wasn't about winning; it was that Withe didn't wear a suit. It was as though the FAT was thinking they hired a fashion model and not a football coach.

The FAT has relaxed those demands and now will forbid Withe to wear shorts o the sidelines. They will permit him to coach the side in the upcoming Kings Cup February. He will have to work with the Brazilian coaches the FAT has hired. The FAT PICKS the squad.

What next for the high society conscious Thais? Will they require Withe to wear a tuxedo on the pitch? Will that save them face? Will that help the squad win? Stay tuned.

AFC WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP (FOOTBALL)

The AFC Women's (Football) will be held in Bangkok, Thailand April 17-30. They will vie for the two add a half spots open for the FIFA World Cup to be played in China.

Participating teams include: defending champions DPR Korea, China, Taiwan, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea Republic, Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

KINGS CUP:

The Kings Cup tournament will be held in Bangkok February 16-22. Sweden, North Korea and Qatar have agreed to participate. Sweden said they would bring their full squad.

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