Yew-Hoe, Yong Seng Depart
Speculation that the club is going all out for a hit man to break through the fortress-like standard of Division Two defences intensified with the sale of one-time club youth jewel
Chai Yew-Hoe for S$1.503 million. Poziomkowa, a Polish Division Two team, were the buyers, completing the sale over interest from Swedish side Deg FC. This is by far the largest amount taken in by Grilled Birds, almost double the sum of S$834000 garnered last season for 18-year old striker Fung Tan-Cang, now in Belgium with blauw-witte leger. New coach Arkadiy Bakunin, not the most welcome face in the locality now for his decision, defended itstoutly. "We already have more inner midfielders than we can easily support -
Zhan Ju-Hau, Tellskar and Stanton are pure inners like Yew-Hoe, Kek-Tjiang is decent defensive cover, Aznan has taken to coming inside too, and Blissenbach is one for the future."
Disregarding the several die-hards shouting outside his office window, Bakunin continued, "Also we are in dire need of a forward to lead our attack. Our defense and midfield are up there with the other teams in the division as far as I am concerned. Even they," he motioned outside, "have to agree that Hobson is now ineffective, notwithstanding his previous contributions, and even
Joe Stern is barely up to touch. The loss against Chinablack for one I attribute to our impotent attack alone."
Later on, Bakunin revealed that his clear-out of "poor-fit" players incompatible with his team vision has not ended. He confirmed that American
Miguel Reed, brought in two seasons ago to partner longtime striker Chiew-Yen, would go for a decent price. "We are looking to recoup about what we paid for him." Bakunin said. "The S$1.8 million from the sales will go a long way towards the new arrival. We are prepared to wait a bit for the best deal." With the breathtaking funds involved, it is little doubt that even mainstay Chiew-Yen will be demoted to reserve status.
On a related note, largely anonymous 19-year old playmaker/winger Shan Yong-Seng was bought by Ainrom United of the Netherlands for a token sum of S$10000.
