Leaked proposals document April 1^st. 2015

The new Honda Thai Elite League 2020

The major problems with league football in Thailand are;

·         Lack of spectators.

·          Mediocre standards of play.

 Thais are just not sufficiently interested (with a few notable exceptions) to turn out to watch their local team. The majority of players in the TPL are just not good enough to excite spectators. Further the cheating, feigning injury and abuse of officials by so called professionals is not what the majority of spectators want to see.

The status quo of course can continue (and probably will, let’s be honest) but the result will be a sub standard product which will wither and eventually die. The solutions are extreme and will undoubtedly ruffle feathers but the alternative is ultimate extinction.

The Plans.

·         Thai Elite League to consist of 12 teams – based on ability to attract fans and geographic location. Teams bid for franchises in the new league. They must guarantee attendances of at least 10k and commit to construction of purpose built stadium of capacity 10k-15k or modify existing stadia within 5 years

The 12 teams would be:

Navy

Chonburi

Bangkok Glass

MT United

Ratchaburi

Suphanburi

Nahkon Ratchasima

Buriram United

Si Siket

Chang Rai United

Udon Thani or Konkaen

Chainat Hornbills

·         Top 8 to play in playoffs ie post season to make up for lack of matches due to fewer teams. Quarter finals, semifinals and final all played over 2 legs.

·         Ban live TV coverage for 1 year to assess the effect on attendances, replace with extended highlights or play midweek game to show live when no other teams are playing.

·         Encourage the building of 10k-15k purpose built stadia for the elite League teams.

·         Abolish the foreign player quota rule

·         All TPL teams to fund Youth Academies.

·         No relegation from the new EPL for 5 years.

·         Division 1 and Regional Leagues to continue. Former TPL teams not in the Elite League to compete in Division 1.

·         Some Regional League teams to be linked to appropriate Elite League teams and act as feeder teams and to develop new talent.

The biggest obstacle will be funding. Loss of TV revenue and funding of stadia construction and salaries for more foreign imports will be slightly offset by increased attendances and investment from The Thai government.