SINGAPORE — When Lim Kia Tong and his team were voted in as the new Football Association of Singapore (FAS) council on April 29, they declared that reviving the S.League was one of their immediate priorities.

Yesterday, the FAS received a boost after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the region’s governing body, pledged to support and drive the national sports association’s efforts to improve the ailing domestic professional league.

At a press conference, which followed a two-hour presentation to the council on the AFC’s programmes and initiatives at the FAS’ headquarters at Jalan Besar Stadium, AFC general secretary Windsor John said that the AFC would begin its evaluation and assessment of the S.League immediately to come up with recommendations for the FAS Council.

“This is one of the key priorities for FAS at the moment, among others, and we are also available to provide all other support as deemed necessary by the FAS,” he said.

“We want to ensure that as a member association of AFC, FAS receives all the necessary support and assistance.”

FAS president Lim also revealed yesterday that the AFC will provide external consultants to be engaged to review the S.League.

“They (AFC) will help FAS come up with a study to determine which direction the S.League should go, whether it should be privatisation, commercialisation or any other way,” Mr Lim said.

“So the model (we adopt) must necessarily emanate from the consultant’s recommendations, and of course that has to be analysed (further) and (is) to be decided by the council in due course.”

Started in 1996 amid much fanfare, the S.League has declined in recent years as it became plagued with perennial problems such as dwindling attendances, late release of fixtures and funding problems that in turn led to some clubs closing down or opting out of the competition temporarily. Many observers have also lamented the fact that the quality of football in the league has been falling over the past decade.

This, in turn, has resulted in a steep decline in public interest, with initiatives like the Marquee Player Scheme in 2012 and even the arrival of former Liverpool and Arsenal star Jermaine Pennant failing to resuscitate the league’s fortunes.

Mr John explained that the AFC would be in charge of engaging the consultants and stressed that the right personnel would be brought in.

“We have (contacts for) a wide range of experts, both from Asia and Europe,” he said.

“We have an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Uefa (Europe’s governing body) and it gives us the opportunity to bring in someone from Europe as well (if needed).

“I need to go back and find someone who is suitable. It has to be someone who has worked in similar conditions … we could even bring in two or three consultants.

“It’s a very important decision, and we need to make sure there is sustainability and a clear roadmap to achieving this change.”

When asked by TODAY whether privatisation was the way to go for the S.League, Mr John insisted that a “proper assessment” has to be made first as every country has its own unique problems.

“My commitment to the AFC and the (FAS) exco is that we will be able to send the right people to come over here, and then present a model that will work for Singapore,” he said, noting the small size of the country and its limited player base.

Mr Lim added that the amateur National Football League will not be neglected and that the FAS will also draw on the AFC’s expertise in developing such leagues.

Mr John also urged local football stakeholders to give the new FAS council time to put into motion their plans for bringing about change in Singapore football.

“I want to remind (everyone) that this is a very new team and I believe that for any changes to be sustainable, you need to give time for them to put up reforms and procedures in place,” he explained.

“Any knee-jerk reactions will not help anyone. We need to be aware that deep-rooted, well-thought reforms will sustain the future.

“Everybody wants to get it done quickly, but this will define the future of Singapore football … You cannot plant a seed today and expect a tree to grow tomorrow.

“If they don’t have a plan, go after them, but … if they are working hard towards implementing the plan, you have to support them.”