Phuket FC Season finale: all or nothing
PHUKET: The Islander’s Head Coach Anurak Srikerd has vowed to fans that he will run nine circles around the main ordination hall of Wat Chalong on Sunday morning if Phuket FC prevail in their final match of the season this evening.
He did not say, however, what he would do if the Islanders don’t prevail in the match, a home-fixture to be played at Surakul Stadium against 16th-placed JW Rangsit FC with a 4pm kickoff.
Winning looks the only viable option for the team to avoid relegation from Thailand’s first division (Thai Yamaha 1); a loss or draw will put the team’s fate into contention with the results of other final-day results in the league.
Namely, 16th-placed Pattalung FC, 15th -laced Songkhla FC and 12th-placed Khon Kaen FC are all keeping their fingers crossed for a Phuket defeat.
Pattalung, who are set to host already-promoted Bangkok United in their final match, cling to a narrow thread of hope that requires them to win by a heavy goal margin, and for Phuket and Songkhla to also suffer heavy defeats.
Considering the fact that Songkhla play Chanthaburi, the only team to not win all season, and Phuket’s already-relegated opponents, JW Rangsit are also only playing for pride, most have already written off Pattalung as the fourth relegated team.
Songkhla, meanwhile, will survive if they win and Phuket lose.
A prevailing Southern Fighting Bulls may still survive relegation if Phuket win, but only if 12th placed Khon Kaen lose their away match against 10th placed Saraburi FC.
Note: In the event that teams are tied on points, then their previous head-to-head record is used as priority over goal difference comparisons in determining who stays and who goes.
This rule will work in Phuket’s favor in the event of a points-tie with Bangkok, Khon Kaen and Songkhla, all of which Phuket had beaten this season.
All will be decided in the season finale this evening, with all games to kickoff at 4pm.
Likewise, Phuket’s match against JW Rangsit will be played at Surakul Stadium at 4pm.
Meanwhile, three Division 1 teams have already secured their spots in the Sponsor Thai Premier League next season: Ratchaburi Mitrphol FC, Suphanburi FC and Bangkok United.
They will be replaced by three teams relegated from the elite league: Thai Port FC, Big Bang Chula United and the Thai Tobacco Monopoly Chiang Mai – assuming there are no surprise team dissolutions.
— Steven Layne
