Funding boost for S-League clubs

Football: Funding boost for S-League clubs

After an anxious wait, the nine local football clubs in the Great-Eastern-Yeo's S-League received a boost on Monday.

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) revealed that each team could receive up to S$864,000 in total funding each year for the next five years, starting this season.

While the FAS still need to sign off the new figures with their stakeholders, each club could potentially receive S$434,000 in cash -- up from S$310,000 in 2010.

The clubs also stand to receive up to S$430,000 each in outcome-based funding - up to a 100 per cent increase from last year.

The two foreign clubs, French side Etoile FC and Japan's Albirex Niigata will receive up to 60 per cent of the total figure -- cash and funding through the outcome-based initiative -- which could mean a maximum of S$518,400 each.

The S-League features 12 teams, including the Courts Young Lions, which is wholly funded by the FAS.

Last September, the nine local club chairmen made a plea to the FAS for more funding help, with some fearing they would have to quit the competition otherwise.

Besides the increase in funding for the S-League side, each of the nine local clubs will also receive S$110,000 to fund their centres of excellence.

The centres - which will groom the under-14, under-16 and under-18 teams - have to be launched this May.

-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-