The ChiangMai FC video released Saturday night on YouTube and Facebook was meant to provide answers for the club’s supporters.
Instead it simply left more questions.
Coach Pao from Christ FC declared himself as President of CMFC and his son “Coach Tee” Amret Amrelitsak was appointed as the new head coach.
It resembled a coup leader’s video. The old government has been removed – I am now in charge – please cheer for me.
No press were invited. It was simply a scripted statement to camera where President Pao asked for the support of Chiang Mai fans.
Coach/President Pao said that he now has a board of directors from Chiang Mai and that funding is coming from friends in other provinces.
There was no mention of Marcelo Conceição and his Brazilian investment group. There was no mention of the money already brought into the club or of the Brazilian sponsors and their shirt logos. How long will it be until there are new shirts with new sponsor names? Will Aniruth make a comeback?
There was also no mention of the work done by Coach Reuther Moreira before he was fired late on Friday.
There was no mention of the accumulated debts of the club and of who is now responsible for clearing those amounts.
It is pretty clear that Conceição and his investors entered into a contract with K.Sand for the sale and purchase of CMFC. The funds from the sale would be used to help pay off the debts of K.Sand/CMFC and by doing so the club would be licensed to play in T3.
Christ FC were expect to provide some players and logistical support. They have now taken full control.
The issue for Conceição is that his purchase of CMFC was never formally announced; CMFC supporters do not know who he is. In a public relations battle President Pao already has the upper hand. In addition Conceição never obtained access to the passwords for the clubs facebook and youtube accounts.
So like all well prepared coup leaders President Pao controls the means of communication and he is insisting that fans should only look at the club’s social media accounts for any news.
Many supporters would likely welcome local Thai investment in the club. Indeed, it was unclear how foreign ownership was possible other than through nominees. But it is worth remembering that K.Sand was lauded as a Chiang Mai investor just a year ago. And look how that worked out.
Lawyers, probably on both sides, will already be working on what happens next.