It is clear that there remain unresolved issues at CMFC.
CM Live TV reported last night that K. Sand has only been paid Baht 0.5m of the Baht 3m due to him on the sale of the football club
This amount is presumably due from Marcelo Conceição and his Brazilian investors. There may be issues transferring funds out of Brazil.
However, with just ten days until the start of the T3 season, the CMFC facebook page has posted no details of any change in ownership, who the new investors are, or information about the staff and players.
Which begs the question of who actually owns CMFC?
For many fans this may not matter – as long as they have a team to watch and cheer. But another season of turmoil and broken promises is not the basis for a sustainable football club.
Marcelo insists that he does own the club.
How does that comply with the 2 year ownership rule of the Thai FA? Further if Marcelo has acquired the company that directly controls CMFC how does that meet Thailand’s foreign ownership rules other than through a nominee shareholder holding the controlling interest.
Are there other professional Thai football club’s with foreign owners – Phuket Andaman is the only one that I am aware of?
The Thai FA yesterday declined Krabi FC’s request to approve a change in ownership. The club can still participate in T3 but under the old ownership. Has CMFC tried to register our change of ownership with the Thai FA?
Marcelo Conceição is a Brazilian footballer who came to Thailand in August 2022 and joined Trang FC. He moved to Phuket Andaman at the start of 2023. He took a break from football after being involved in a traffic incident in Phuket late in 2023. Based upon the club’s list of sponsors his connections to Brazil appear stronger than any in Thailand.
How Coach Pao, Christ FC and CMFC all became interconnected is murky. In reality it is hard to see the football club as CMFC in anything except name. Maybe that is enough.
If Marcelo and his team are struggling to find Baht 3 million for the purchase of the club how will they find Baht 12-15m baht (best guess) to operate the club in T3 for the full season?
For now it appears that the operating expenses of the club, including salaries, are being met by Coach Pao (Christ FC) from his own funds. Not ideal.
Old debts appear to still be unpaid for both Thai and international players. These are the responsibility of K Sand – but the total amount is in excess of the Baht3 million due to him.
Albert Garcia’s case at FIFA is still unresolved – it remains possible that if payment is not made by the start of the season then FIFA will step in and ban CMFC from competition. Remember Muangkan United from a few seasons ago.
And of course Kelme is still waiting payment for the 25th anniversary shirts.
With no little irony the new investors were given 25th anniversary shirts when the sale/purchase deal was agreed. The shirts, rather like the football club, are still not paid for.
On the pitch coach Reuther Moreira has built a new squad that looks fit and ambitious and should compete well in T3. But as we discovered last year success cannot just be measured by what happens on the pitch.
A very good friend of mine suggested that rather tan trying to work out what is happening with the club I should sit back and eat popcorn.
It is good advice. I have taken this page through the summer – from the end of last season until hopefully the start of a new season and a new generation of CMFC.
I have so many questions! Getting straight answers is near impossible. So there will be fewer updates, and more popcorn, after this week.