SINGAPORE – The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has promised to work with outgoing Tampines chairman Krishna Ramachandra to ensure that the club will be in good shape finally when he officially steps down from his position.

Krishna had publicly declared on Wednesday that he plans to leave his role as chairman of the Stags in the coming weeks, citing a busy work schedule as his reason for doing so.

The 45-year-old managing director of law firm Duane Morris & Selvam LLP also said that he would only step down once all of Tampines’ financial obligations were resolved.

One outstanding financial issue facing the S.League outfit is a legal request from former sponsors Komoco Motors for the repayment of a sum of S$190,000, although the club has disputed the veracity of Komoco’s claims.

Tampines also needs to pay off a S$750,000 interest-free “credit line” loan, which they took from Taiwanese company Nogle in July last year. They are expected to start doing so in installments from next year.

While Krishna has signaled his intent to step down in the “coming weeks”, the FAS said that they will make certain all these issues are resolved before he does so.

Said FAS vice president Edwin Tong: “You can’t stop someone from wanting to step down, but what we (the FAS) can do is to ensure that the club he (Krishna) leaves behind is financially sound, has proper structures, and is not disrupted by (the) resignation.

“We must also assess that apart from financial stability… whether it’s the right time to (step down) in the context of it being in mid-season, and in the context of the changes being considered for the S.League. I think the council will grapple with these issues when we reach a decision with the club.

“But we are in touch with Krishna, and we also see that he has given statements that he intends to ensure the financial stability of the club, so I’m sure we’d be able to work it out in good time.”

Tong confirmed that Tampines’ loan repayment to Nogle, as well as Komoco’s legal demand to the club, would be “part and parcel” of their discussions with Krishna and his team.

He added that the FAS council will not be setting a deadline on when these issues need to be resolved.

“On both sides, we have a desire to want to work very quickly towards getting this sorted out,” he said.

“But it depends on the nature of the issues, so I don’t want to put my finger on a particular timeline.”

Krishna took over Tampines from former chairman Teo Hock Seng in November 2015.

Under his stewardship, the club tried to inject life into local football and the S.League by signing former Liverpool and Arsenal player Jermaine Pennant last year.

Eschewing clubhouse jackpot operations as a source of revenue, Tampines also tried to set up a football academy in partnership with Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho as an alternative income stream but the venture ultimately did not take off.

However, these initiatives, along with Tampines’ heavy spending on former LionsXII players for last season, resulted in the club experiencing financial difficulties. Krishna has since revealed that he had to contribute over S$1 million from his own pocket to aid the club.

Tong also refuted claims that have surfaced online alleging that it was the FAS who leaked confidential information of Ramachandra’s impending resignation.

The senior counsel, who is a partner at law firm Allen & Gledhill, said sternly: “It is not in our interest to have confidential information that is going between FAS and its club members and stakeholders to be leaked...it’s not right. We have very strict policies in place, and that covers confidential information.

“So you can be sure that the council did not leak this information, as has been suggested.”

FAS president Lim Kia Tong added: “This council takes the issue of integrity very seriously, and as such, it’s unimaginable that the leak has come from anyone of us, if indeed there was a leak at all.”