Pahang are struggling to put up a decent side for the new M-League season as many players have left and the former Malaysia Cup champions are also said to be having budget issues.
It is learnt that the east coast side have only 15 players in training with French defender Herold Goulon being the only foreigner retained from last season’s squad.
Forwards Dickson Nwakaeme (Nigeria), Lazarus Kaimbi (Namibia) and Saddil Ramdani (Indonesia) have been released along with Singapore’s Safuwan Baharudin, who has joined Selangor.
Pahang have also not extended the contracts of Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Zubir Azmi, R Kogileswaran, A Salomon Raj, Afif Amiruddin, Remezey Che Ros and Wafieyuddin Shamsudin.
It is understood that coach Dollah Salleh was also on the verge of leaving Pahang but has since decided to stay on for another season.
“Pahang have only 15 players in training. The club are unable to sign players as they have not finalised their budget for the new season.
“It is already quite late as most of the top locals have signed for teams in the M-League.
“If things do not go as planned, the club will likely promote their President’s Cup players for the new season,” said a reliable source in Kuantan.
Last season, Pahang were handed a target to win at least a title, but Dollah’s side failed to achieve it.
They finished runners-up in the Super League, 10 points behind champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and were semi-finalists in the FA Cup.
In the Malaysia Cup, Pahang were ousted by eventual runners-up Kedah on goal difference in the semi-finals.