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Philippe Aw relieved of duties as Home United head coach

SINGAPORE- In a decision that has surprised the local football fraternity, S.League side Home United have relieved Philippe Aw of his duties as head coach.

Philippe Aw was relieved of his head coach duties at Home United today. Photo: Home United's Facebook page

Philippe Aw was relieved of his head coach duties at Home United today. Photo: Home United's Facebook page

SINGAPORE- In a decision that has surprised the local football fraternity, S.League side Home United have relieved Philippe Aw of his duties as head coach.

The Protectors released a statement on their Facebook page on Saturday evening (July 30) which said that Aw will be redesignated as Head of Youth Development and Performance Management, with former Home assistant coach Aidil Sharin taking over him as head coach of the senior side.

“Aw will oversee the Centre of Excellence, Kids Academy and Scouting Programmes at Home United,” said the club. “Home believes that Philippe's appointment within the youth set-up will ensure that this crucial area of the club is led by an individual who is well-versed in youth development and has a good track record at the level.”

“We believe that the reorganisation of the technical set-up of Home will be for the betterment of the club, as it will ensure that both our youth development and senior set-ups are led by staff committed to deliver success for Home United at all fronts.”

Aw, who was appointed head coach of the club back in 2015, led Home to a sixth-placed finish in the S.League last season and to the final of the 2015 Singapore Cup, where they lost to Albirex Niigata. 

Aw also led the Singapore Selection to victory in May’s Sultan of Selangor’s (SOS) Cup and has been earmarked by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to be a national team coach in the near future.

However, a recent poor run of form has seen Home knocked out of the Singapore Cup and League Cup, while they sit in fourth place in the S.League, 16 points behind league leaders Albirex Niigata.

When contacted by TODAY, the 39-year-old declined to comment on the decision and said he would only speak "after things had settled down.”

During his time as head coach, Aw emphasised on the importance of developing youth while his side, despite their league position, always played an attractive style of football. Young players such as Shahrin Saberin and Amir Zalani have all impressed while senior players such as Abdil Qaiyyim and Azhar Sairudin have earned their first call-ups to the national team.

Home players told TODAY that they had been kept in the dark by the Home management and only came to know of the decision through the club’s Facebook page.

TODAY understands that the club’s coaching staff, which includes assistant coach Robin Chitrakar, goalkeeper coach Adi Saleh and head of sports performance Dirk Schauenberg, were also not informed of the decision beforehand.

Newly-appointed head coach Aidil, who is the younger brother of former Singapore captain Aide Iskandar, was previously assistant coach at the club from 2011 to 2015, and played for the club from 2002-2006. He also represented the national team.

Chris Peng, a Home fan, took to the club’s Facebook page to state his displeasure at the decision.

 “Why are we making this drastic change when the league still has one cycle to run? With all due respect, is the club implying that Coach Aidil can do better than coach Aw in our pursuit of 3rd place?”

 He added, “Most self-respecting clubs do not change their head coach mid season unless they are in dire straits, for example fighting a relegation battle. We aren't in such a situation, we are well placed to compete for 3rd place, which will be a significant improvement over last season.”

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