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Tampines chairman Krishna Ramachandra to step down

SINGAPORE – Tampines Rovers chairman Krishna Ramachandra is set to leave his role just one-and-a-half years after taking over the club’s reins.

Tampines Rovers chairman Krishna Ramachandra (right) started a partnership with Brazilian football star Ronaldinho (centre) in December 2015 to set up an academy here. However, the academy had closed down without conducting a single training session. TODAY File Photo

Tampines Rovers chairman Krishna Ramachandra (right) started a partnership with Brazilian football star Ronaldinho (centre) in December 2015 to set up an academy here. However, the academy had closed down without conducting a single training session. TODAY File Photo

SINGAPORE – Tampines Rovers chairman Krishna Ramachandra is set to leave his role just one-and-a-half years after taking over the club’s reins.

The 45-year-old lawyer, the managing director of Duane Morris & Selvam LLP in Singapore, announced on Wednesday (June 21) that work commitments meant he was unable to devote the required time needed to serve the Stags.

But Ramachandra, who had been Tampines vice-chairman before succeeding Teo Hock Seng in November 2015, added that he would only step down after dealing with all of the club’s financial obligations.

“I intend to step down as Chairman of TRFC (Tampines Rovers FC) in the coming weeks, in any event no earlier than after TRFC's 2016 accounts have been audited and finalised,” he said in a statement.

“I will be dealing with all outstanding queries relating to TRFC's statement of accounts before stepping down.

“The high demands of my professional career have overtaken my ability to keep volunteering at the level of intensity that is needed to fulfil the role of Chairman of TRFC.”

Since Nov 2015, Ramachandra has embarked on various initiatives to inject life and excitement into the club, as well as local football.

This included the high-profile signing of former Liverpool and Arsenal attacker Jermaine Pennant in January last year, making him the highest-paid player in the league's history.

But Pennant lasted only a season, rejecting a new contract with lower wages after a 2016 campaign that saw injuries restrict his playing time and the hype that surrounded his arrival die down.

Other projects included a partnership with Brazilian football star Ronaldinho in December 2015 to set up an academy here. However, TODAY reported last month that the academy had closed down without conducting a single training session.

Financial woes also plagued Tampines, even as Ramachandra revealed he had personally contributed funds towards the club.

“I have also loaned and guaranteed the Club over $1m to ensure it worked,” he said in the statement.

TODAY reported in April last year that the club was facing cash-flow issues and had sought financial assistance from the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). Ramachandra then stated in October that the club’s wage bill would be slashed as they sought to adopt a more sustainable financial model, which steers away from relying on clubhouse jackpot machine revenue.

Tampines ended 2016 without a single trophy and its money problems continued this year, as an “administrative issue” early this year saw the five-time league champions struggle to pay players’ wages.

Last month, former sponsor Komoco Motors issued a letter of demand to Tampines requesting for a loan of S$190,000, made out at the end of 2015, to be repaid. TODAY reported earlier this month that the club issued a legal response asserting that the claims were “invalid”.

Tampines also had to repay a S$750,000 loan with Taiwanese technology firm Nogle, which they had obtained in July 2016. According to a report in The New Paper last month, the deal is a “credit line” that required monthly repayments.

Apart from his club involvement, Ramachandra was also part of the team formed by Hougang United chairman Bill Ng to contest the FAS elections in April and which subsequently lost. 

Ramachandra added that he would remain as a committee member at Tampines and described his chairmanship as a “good” learning experience.

“The fans and the players especially are the reason I have put in my heart into the Club,” he said.

“Hopefully in near future, S-League clubs will be allowed the option to be privatised and those that can, may possibly install a viable model.

“I have absolutely no regrets… I will certainly continue supporting Singapore football.”

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