KUANTAN: Pahang FC is currently without a head coach and the guessing game on who will fill in the hot seat continues.
The team was given a four-day break following the match against Felda United last Saturday and it remains unclear if a new head coach will greet the players when they report for training on Thursday.
Pahang Football Association (PFA) honorary-secretary Fuzeimi Ibrahim said the choice of the new coach lies in the hands of president Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah.
"We have a few candidates and have proposed the names to him. We shall wait.... the league has taken a break so we will not rush into naming a new coach," he said.
It is learnt that Ahmad Shaharuddin Rosdi, who recently quit as head coach, will be appointed as the deputy to assist the newcomer while Azaruddin Aziz, who served as Ahmad Shaharuddin's assistant, will return to be with his family in Selangor.
Several names have been mentioned for the chief coach post. They include former Kedah fitness coach Ramon Marcote, Yunus Alif, former national coaches Wan Jamak Wan Hassan and B. Sathianathan.
Despite a number of possible candidates for the position, the next coach will be certainly under intense pressure knowing he has to get the best out the existing crop of young players and under performing foreigners.
Any plans to bring in experienced local players or replace the foreigners can only be done during the next transfer window in June and so far, there are no signs that Pahang will be busy in the market.
Judging by their current performance, Pahang is in danger of missing out on the Malaysia Cup, which kicks off in July, as they lie bottom of the 12-team Super League table.
Even before the season had started, the signs of a 'disaster' were already there, especially when Pahang shipped out 13 players, including several core players, but failed to secure suitable replacements.
Securing a single point from a 2-2 draw with T-Team on the opening day before losing 4-1 to Penang, 3-1 to Selangor, 2-1 to Terengganu and 2-0 to Felda United, saw chief executive officer Fahrizal Hasan, Ahmad and Azaruddin quitting the team.