The Expanding Tendrils Of Thai Domestic Football
by Russ John
Since my introduction to Thai domestic football a decade ago, I have been fascinated by the geographical changes that have taken place, as the league has expanded its presence away from the capital.
Thai domestic football is changing - for better or worse - and fans, and administrators, need to get used to the fact. From a stagnating Bangkokcentric entity of the past, to a hopefully exciting and boomtime scenario outside the metropolis.
Until Nakhon Ratchasima’s promotion 6 years ago, there was not a TPL team from the second, third or fourth biggest cities in the Kingdom - Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani and Chang Mai. Thai domestic football has to go where the potential fans are. For whatever reason, attendance figures tend to suggest that the citizens of Bangkok have no real appetite for domestic football. Hence, I believe, one of the reasons for the shift away from the capital into the provinces.
The following info graphics from Wikipedia, illustrate the trend:
2008
2010
2013
2018
The current 2020 season shows a continuation of the trend. The Bangkok Metropolitan area, with a population of 15+ million citizens, now has only six teams to satisfy its football desires. A far cry from 2008.
Two of the additions to the 2019 Premier League - Chiang Mai and Trat - say it all. One of the most northern outposts of the kingdom to the southernmost tip of the country had a presence in the top tier. And, even though we lost Chiang Mai after just one year, their replacement, Rayong - part of the burgeoning Eastern Economic Corridor - further illustrates that we are entering a new zone for development of the Thai Premier League.
A further hint of inexorable change is the demise of once successful clubs, Osotspa and BEC Tero (as was), and this further indicates the new re-formed and re-structured league is coming. Make no mistake about it.
There are also other titbits that offer hope of a new dawn. In Isaan (my domain), teams are bubbling just below the surface. Konkaen, Udon and, perhaps, Nong Bua are going to be TPL teams within the next 5 years. With Isaan also boasting Buriram Utd, one of the most successful Thai clubs of recent years, and a team from the country’s second city, Korat, the region is establishing itself in the top flight. Indeed, the North East could soon have five teams in the Premier League. Or with Ubon and Si Saket perhaps joining them, that five could well become seven!!
Below is my blueprint for a "Thai Elie League", which would be more representative of the country as a whole and bring in the crowds.
The Thai Elite League
Currently, the major problems with league football in Thailand are;
⦁ Lack of spectators.
⦁ Mediocre standards of play.
With a few notable excepetions, Thais are just not sufficiently interested to turn out to watch their local team. The majority of players in the TPL are just not good enough to excite spectators. Furthermore, the cheating, feigning injury and abuse of officials by so called professionals is not what the majority of spectators want to see.
The status quo of course can continue (and probably will, let’s be honest), but the result will be a substandard product, which will wither and eventually die. The solutions outlined here are extreme and will undoubtedly ruffle feathers, but the alternative is ultimate extinction.
The Plans.
The Thai Elite League to consist of 12 teams – based on ability to attract fans and geographic location. Teams bid for franchises in the new league. They must guarantee attendances of at least 10k and commit to construction of purpose-built stadiums with a capacity of 10k-15k, or modify existing stadia within 5 years.
The 12 teams would be:
Rayong
Chonburi
Bangkok Glass
Muang Thong United
Ratchaburi or Suphanburi
Trat or Prachuap
Nahkon Ratchasima
Buriram United
Si Saket
Chang Rai United or Chiang Mai
Udon Thani or Konkaen
Chainat or Sukhothai
The Season
⦁ After a regular season when each team plays all of the others home and away, the top 8 will play in post season playoffs to make up for lack of matches due to fewer teams. Quarter finals, semifinals and final all played over 2 legs.
⦁ Ban live TV coverage for 1 year to assess the effect on attendances, and replace with extended highlights or play one midweek game, to be broadcast live when no other teams are playing.
⦁ Encourage the building of 10k-15k purpose-built stadia for the Elite League teams.
⦁ Abolish the foreign player quota rule
⦁ All Elite League teams to fund Youth Academies.
⦁ No relegation from the new Elite League for 5 years.
⦁ Division 1 and Regional Leagues to continue. Former TPL teams not in the Elite League to compete in Division 1.
⦁ Some Regional League teams to be linked to appropriate Elite League teams and act as feeder teams and to develop new talent.
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So, under the new proposals we have potentially five Isaan teams, Chang Rai or Chang Mai from the north, Trat or Prachuap from the southern provinces, Rayong, and Chonburi from the east. Then add Ratchaburi or Suphanburi, and perhaps Sukhothai or Chainat, and the number of potential spots for Bangkok teams is shrinking rapidly.
The way forward seems clear. A more progressive league, with representation from a geographically diverse selection of teams from areas of high population. A league that will attract fans who will flock to watch their local team. A league that is comprised of teams that can provide decent, exciting football, played in medium sized purpose-built stadia. Clubs who do not “buy in” to these ideas will fade and die in the lower tiers - a fate suffered by many in the last decade.
Worryingly for Bangkok inhabitants, if the current trends are extrapolated, who will be the next Bangkok based team to bite the dust? Personally, I feel that a cadre of three or four teams based in the metro area is sustainable, but they must do more to attract fans. Use it or lose it should be the mantra.
A positive outlook and one that I am looking forward to… but remember, Rome wasn't built in a day!
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