JOHOR Darul Ta'zim (JDT) club owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has dismissed claims that the Southern Tigers' success was solely due to their financial power.
Tunku Ismail, popularly known as TMJ, attributed the Johor team's success in dominating Malaysian football to good planning.
Tunku Ismail said though the club are backed by him — and with the blessing of his father, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar — JDT players also play a pivotal role in their achievements.
"I believe our success is not due to backing in terms of financial but it's more of having a well structured plan," said the former FA of Malaysia president yesterday.
"You can have a lot of money but at the end of the day what I will say the most important thing is the dressing room," said Tunku Ismail.
"You can have a lot of money, the best infrastructure, gym and salaries but if those 27 to 30 men do not want to bleed or run for you on the field, you will never win.
"If their desire to win is very low, you will never win matches. So, for me, man management is the key to a successful organisation and that money is merely one of the tools. It's not everything," he added.
Since the club's rebranding in 2013, JDT have won six Super League titles, five Charity Shields, two Malaysia Cups and an FA Cup as well as emerging as the 2015 AFC Cup champions, the first team to do so in Southeast Asia.
In stressing the importance of having a good plan, Tunku Ismail cited Pahang, Kedah and Selangor as examples.
"Pahang had a lot of money, so did Kedah and Selangor but how come they don't even have one training facility? Not even one training ground. How come they don't even own their own stadium until today?
"How come there was barely a plan in terms of gaining income or privatising or to have commercial success for the club?
"I feel at the end of the day, money can get you somewhere but you must have a proper plan to identify, to implement what you want to achieve.
"Those teams in the past had lot of money. I have everything by 2014 after only starting the club in 2013.
"I know exactly what I want to do, no one helped me. I had no consultant… only towards the end of 2015/2016, I started having a technical director (Alistair Edward) and people helping me."
The former Malaysian Football League chairman revealed that it was Singapore's business magnate Peter Lim who gave him sound advice and opened doors to collaborations with European teams, and for which he is grateful.
"I'm very grateful for people who have been involved but at the end, it was my decision and planning.
"So, yes, money is important but without proper planning and strategy, it will not work."