Schaefer heading to exit as FA look to end contract
Beleaguered Winfried Schaefer's days as coach of the Thai national football team now seem numbered after the Football Association of Thailand started looking for legal possibilities of ending the German's contract.
The veteran coach’s reign has been under intense scrutiny since the country’s failed attempt to reclaim the title in the Asean Championship in December. The German has faced even more pressure in recent months following Thailand’s faltering campaign in the Asian Cup qualifiers.
Last week, Worawi Makudi, the president of the Football Association of Thailand, said the organisation would decide on the future of the 63-year-old after the May 2 election, where he is bidding to become the new head of the Asian Football Confederation.
The Thai FA boss, though, yesterday revealed he already assigned the association’s lawyer to study the terms of the German’s contract to see whether the termination of it was legally possible.
“We have to accept that the results of the Thai team under Schaefer have not been not quite good. It looked like we would suffer elimination in the Asian Cup qualifiers.
“There are also growing calls from the fans for a change of coach. Moreover, Schaefer, himself, has a poor relationship with the Thai media. We are looking to find solution on the matter soon.
“Our lawyer is already looking into whether there is a possibility to terminate his contract. But I first will talk to Schaefer to discuss it with him personally in the second week of May. If we are unable to continue working together then we have to find a way ensure an exit by mutual consent,” said Worawi.
