Hamidin denies Troussier main candidate to coach Harimau Malaya Squad

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin has denied several reports from social websites claiming Japan's coach Philippe Troussier is the main candidate to succeed Datuk K. Rajagopal as coach the Harimau Malaya (national squad).

"I deny it (the matter)...If there is one, we will announce. In fact, FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, prior to this, did say there are several names (being shortlisted).

"We will not be hasty, when the time comes, we will announce (the new coach for the Harimau Malaya squad)," he said when met by reporters after a media conference to announce the final list of 20 Harimau Malaya Muda A players (National Under-23 squad) to the SEA Games in Myanmar, here Thursday.

Reports in several social websites claimed that FAM was negotiating with Troussier, who succeeded in taking Japan to the last 16 of the World Cup in 2002, to coach Harimau Malaya with a lucrative salary offer.

The FAM executive committee which met on Nov 24 decided not to continue Rajagopal's contract which expires on Dec 31 after he failed to meet the stipulated target of helping the national squad qualify for the final rounds of the 2015 Asia Cup in Australia.

Harimau Muda A chief coach, Datuk Ong Kim Swee was appointed as temporary handler of the national football squad to face Yemen in the final match of Group D in the 2015 Asia Cup qualifier in March.

Commenting further, Hamidin said the issue of appointing a new Harimau Malaya coach did not arise, so as not to affect Kim Swee's temporary plans for the squad to face Yemen.

"In the contract (to be signed by the new coach), we will include all matters including the Key Performance Indicator and others which the coach needs to achieve.

"I expect in the next one month or so, we will finalise the name of the coach," he said, adding the appointment of coach for Harimau Malaya and FAM technical director will be announced simultaneously.