Fowler will snare more fans and sell more shirts

It’s no wonder that it has raised many eyebrows, too.
The coaching change at one of the country’s leading clubs seemed inevitable after the side, helmed by experienced Portuguese coach Henrique Calisto since just before the start of the current season, endured a disappointing campaign in the topflight division.
There seemed to be slim chances of third-placed Muang Thong retaining the league title after they trailed current leaders Buriram PEA by 12 points, albeit with two games in hand. There was no doubt that their performance fell well short of the expectations of the club’s board, given that the team had won back-to-back titles.
With Muang Thong fixing their eyes on continental glory following big spending during the off season on recruits, including Fowler, who joined the team after leaving Australia’s struggling A-League, it came as little surprise that the board wielded the axe just a day after the club exited from the AFC Cup in midweek. The source said the club’s executives were very upset with the team’s elimination in the quarter-finals of the competition, equivalent to the Europa League. They believed Calisto’s men should have been able to overturn a 1-0 deficit at home against Kuwait SC. With his charges unable to match last season’s feat by reaching the last four despite dominating the game, the former Vietnam national team coach had to pay the price.
If Calisto’s departure was predictable, then the decision to promote Fowler, who became the most high-profile player to play in the domestic league when he signed a one-year contract for a reported record wage in July, to take up a coach-cum-player’s role caught many by surprise.
The club cited its ambition of becoming one of the leading teams on the continent as the reason behind the abrupt ending of Calisto’s six-month reign, which appeared a logical one. Handing the 36-year-old Fowler his first coaching role was less logical, though.
They might argue that the former England striker would take charge of the team on a caretaker basis until the end of the season. But the move still looked odd: Rarely has a club aiming to stand at the forefront taken such a gamble by putting the team’s future in unproven hands.
How could Muang Thong be certain that Fowler, who previously made no secret of his desire to take up the coaching job one day, would succeed in the front seat role? There are several examples of a footballer who had a successful playing career flopping in the coaching role. Look no further than former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson, whose stint as the national coach, which lasted barely two years, was largely forgettable.
Fowler’s appointment raised more questions as it came just a day after the club announced that it had agreed to terminate Calisto’s contract by mutual consent and that Sarawut Treephan, the Portuguese’s assistant, would oversee the team in the league fixture against SCG Samut Songkhram.
Some asked if the club’s quick change of mind by putting Fowler in charge of the team was a business-driven decision. With the Englishman rarely seen in action since his much-publicised transfer, it seemed as if the player, fondly called “God” by the Kop faithful, contributed more to the club in terms of the sales of his No 9 shirt.
Having such a household name as a figurehead would not only raise the club’s profile globally, but also draw more interest from sponsors. So, it clearly was a business decision. However, it remains to be seen how “God” will help the club achieve its lofty goals on the field.