ROBSON SIGNS FOR THAILAND; SATHIA MOVES TO KELANTAN

The FA of Thailand (FAT) who have been in talks with Robson over the past week has finally confirmed the arrival of the Englishman where he will officially takes over next month following a four-year contract.

Robson’s pay packet was not announced but it has been learned that he will earn GBP 600,000 a year.

“He has agreed to become our coach. He is very happy with what we have offered him,” said FAT president Datuk Worawi Makudi.

“It’s a four-year deal. The plan is he will coach Thailand for the Asian Cup, the Olympics and hopefully the World Cup too.

“I told him that he had to take Thailand to the 2011 Asian Cup finals in Qatar. He is also tasked with guiding Thailand to the London Olympics in 2012 and ultimately the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.”

The first assignment for the former Manchester United skipper will be Thailand’s home and away matches against Singapore in the Asian Cup qualifying round in November.

“That is a very important period early on into my job. That is a very good challenge for me straight away. That is what I am looking forward to,” added Robson (pix).

Robson is Thailand’s ninth foreign coach since 1976 and the third ex-England international to take the job after Reid and Peter Withe.

In the meantime, newly-appointed head coach of Kelantan B. Sathianathan will be hoping to use his international coaching experience to good use.

“Kelantan have shown that they are a serious side and where they have high aspirations to do well with calibre players and fanatical fan support,“ said Sathianathan.

“They are ambitious and as a coach, I am used to high pressure situations.“

And the fans expectation will be high this season where Kelantan were not only one of the strong contender for the just concluded Super League, but they were also the losing finalists in the FA Cup.

As such, they will be craving for success in the Malaysia Cup.

For the Malaysia Cup, the east coast side are in Group E against Kedah, Armed Forces and Pulau Pinang.