THAI FA TEMPORARILY SUSPEND DARBY

The eight-times champions were dumped out of a place in the semi-finals of the SEA Games this year when they crashed to a 2-1 loss to Malaysia in the crucial final Group A match.

“I understand the reasons why the Thai fans and media were upset but any changes should be handled ‘smoothly‘,” said FAT president Datuk Worawi Makudi.

It is believed that there will be imminent changes in the coaching set-up of the national team where Darby is the assistant coach to Bryan Robson.

Since the team’s early exit, there has been a lot of pressure on the FAT to sack Darby after staff coaches Kiatisak Senamuang and Nibhon Malanot quit their positions.

Thailand will face an important Asian Cup qualifying match against Jordan at the Rajamangala Stadium on 6 January 2009.