SINGAPORE — It looks like Lim Kia Tong, the interim president of the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) provisional council, is gunning for all 15 available council seats in the upcoming elections.

On top of coming up with a nine-man slate for key council positions — president, deputy president, four vice-presidents and three council members — TODAY understands that Lim has found candidates to run for the six remaining council member slots which will be contested individually.

Lim attended the launch of the LaLiga office in Singapore at the National Gallery yesterday morning, along with FAS interim vice-president Bernard Tan and when approached by TODAY, he confirmed that he has assembled a 15-member team.

“We have more than enough people who want to contribute to football together with us,” the 64-year-old lawyer told TODAY.

“Furthermore, the constitution allows for 15 council members.”

Lim declined to reveal further details, but members in his nine-member slate include former Tampines Rovers chairman Teo Hock Seng, Tan and fellow interim vice-president Edwin Tong, as well as Balestier Khalsa chairman S Thavaneson.

According to sources, Darwin Jalil, who is the chairman of reigning National Football League (NFL) Division One champions Eunos Crescent, and Dr Dinesh Nair, a cardiologist who chairs the FAS’ medical committee, will be part of the slate as well.

While Sharda Parvin, who plays for the Tanjong Pagar United women’s team, has confirmed that she has joined Lim’s team and will be vying for a council seat independently, TODAY understands that former national defender Lim Tong Hai will be doing the same.

When contacted, Lim, who is chairman of the FAS referees’ committee, declined to confirm the news. “Let’s wait until Saturday, then you will know whether I am running or not,” said the 48-year-old ITE lecturer.

Teams and candidates must register to run in the elections by tomorrow, the deadline for submission.

FAS torchbearers, previously appointed by the Government, will then be voted in for the first time on April 29 by 44 affiliates which consist of S-League and NFL clubs, as well as other related organisations.

Lim will be facing a challenge from Hougang United chairman Bill Ng for the FAS presidency.

Ng has also assembled a nine-man slate, which includes current Tampines chairman Krishna Ramachandra, Singapore National Olympic Council vice-president Annabel Pennefather, former vice-chairman of Geylang International and lawyer Lau Kok Keng and Dr Teoh Chin Sim, who was Team Singapore’s chief medical officer for the 2015 SEA Games.

It is not certain though whether Ng has, like Lim, found six other candidates to contest the individual council seats.

When asked if he too was forming a 15-strong team or just contesting the nine-member slate, Ng told TODAY that all will be revealed soon.

However, the 56-year-old mergers and acquisitions specialist added: “There is no lack of quality individuals and experienced professionals across all relevant disciplines and specialisations who believe that Singapore football is long overdue for an overhaul and, like my team, want to modernise our game, given its current state.

“And it will be an honour and privilege to work and serve with these like-minded professionals to revitalise Singapore football.”

Ng had previously declared that he wants to revitalise football, modernise and develop the sport, as well as enhance the eco-system around it.

He has helped transform Hougang into a financially self-sustaining S.League club since taking over the club in 2009, by focusing on their clubhouse jackpot operations. The Cheetahs are currently the only team in the S.League that are able to operate without the annual S$800,000 subsidy from the Tote Board.

All nominations have to be delivered by hand to the FAS general secretariat at Jalan Besar Stadium by 6pm this Saturday, after which the ad hoc electoral committee will examine the candidates.

There will be a three-day window for appeals before the final list of candidates will be sent to all FAS affiliate members at least 10 days before election day on April 29.

The milestone elections will be held at the Sport Singapore auditorium from 11am onwards.

The team which garners at least two-thirds majority of the votes (30 votes) will be declared the winner.