There would be some disappointment at the Birds as they lost an Emerald Challenger Cup final - and badly at that - to Singapore Big Dogs, but this would be well eclipsed by their change at the top. Tian Yonghang's time in charge would come to an end by his own will after some twelve years and change, which heralded the ascension of his faithful assistant Dan Alstani to the hot seat.

This switch had on hindsight been set in motion some time ago, what with Tian's final transfers very much aimed at presenting his successor with a squad that could challenge for the highest honours, out of the box. Longtime regulars such as Gandhik Chitre, Brian Reddy, reigning Player of the Season Raúl Himadas and club captain Ha Qicai would all be allowed to leave, as Tian recruited ready replacements in Hisham Zubari, Phillip Nagata, Hein Thiha Pyae Ko and Ananda Hettiarachchi without missing a beat. This was accompanied by minor adjustments in the team's preferred style, with Hwang Teck Fu promoted to primary centre-forward despite his relatively modest goal return historically.

This came with its fair share of teething troubles, as the Birds shot off to a strong start in the league, only to be stopped 7-4 in the fourth round by eventual runaway winners FC Barca Singapore. Their main cup run would be predictably halted in the sixth round by Haha, though they did make it to the endgame of the Emerald Challenger Cup, dispensing of Sentoza Springboks in the semifinals. Singapore Big Dogs were just too dominant, sadly, which precipitated a huge dip in form for Grilled Birds that saw them lose their next three league fixtures. They would however salvage a second-place finish with a last-gasp win over relegated Joker 9, as West Merlions were unexpectedly denied by Batok Earthquakes.

There was only disappointment for the Bunnies in contrast, as they never really got going in II.3, eventually getting relegated by a resurgent Crème de la crème via Asil Kıratlı's winner. There were a few results to take heart from, as when they became one of only two sides to take points from the Springboks with a nil-all home draw, but these were far between. Indifferent results in the cup too had Vishnu Tallapaka all but placed on gardening leave following the drop, with the former Buns hero reduced to hocking off a host of local trainees such as Lee Yau Tong, Louis Lee, Judah Cho and Lau Keng Kwang. Kavi Chakraborty's emergence would be a brief spot of light in an otherwise forgettable campaign, but he would not have an easy start to pro football with new team 10 august in Romania either.

Grilled International were back in Division Four, and soon found two ready rivals in Vandrelyst and Robophobia, eventually finishing behind both in third place. It was all going quite well with International beating up the chaff on the regular, but an early draw with Robophobia - and then home defeat to Vandrelyst - suggested that they were the ones to watch. International would avenge the latter loss in the reverse fixture, but slip-ups against JUV3-4-3V3R and then Chunjos F.C. cost them dearly.

This was of course again largely attributable to their defensive inconsistency, which would also limit their run in the cups unlike the previous season. A 4-5 loss to third divisioners FC Atlantic Hurricane was not too far from the mean, but the 0-4 flattening by Auberge CF two rounds later in the Sapphire Challenger Cup could only be described as an utter letdown. This has not had Sazwan bin Hj Muhd Salleh open his chequebook yet, though, with the new head coach content to keep observing before potential reinforcement.