Eagles ready to axe Kanan and swoop for Simunic

Just three games into the 2014 season, the Great Eastern-Yeo's S-League looks set for its first football coaching casualty.

The Straits Times understands that Geylang International's V. Kanan is set for the axe, with former Brunei DPMM boss Vjeran Simunic being lined-up as his replacement.

While attempts to reach the club's management team were unsuccessful, Kanan, 49, yesterday admitted: "I don't know if I'll be around for the match against DPMM on March 28.

"I've been hearing speculation that the club are talking to another coach. No one (at Geylang) has spoken to me yet but, of course, I'm feeling the heat."

Geylang have lost all three of their opening league games but the Eagles' plight has not been helped by injuries either.

The coach was even forced to use back-up goalkeeper Siddiq Durimi as an emergency centre-back for Sunday's 3-0 defeat by champions Tampines Rovers, because defenders Yuki Ichikawa and Kento Fukuda, as well as Fabian Kwok, had all been ruled out.

Kanan, who has spent 13 years with the club in two spells, took over from Mike Wong in March 2012.

He steered the Eagles from the foot of the 13-team standings to an 11th-place finish - an effort that saw him shortlisted for Coach of the Year.

However that award ultimately went to Simunic, who led his side to second in the league as well as capturing the StarHub League Cup.

Complicating Kanan's current situation is the fact that Geylang's Argentinian Prime League coach Nazareno Velez is still waiting for clearance from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to coach. That means Kanan has been pressed into double duty.

He lamented: "It's been a very taxing two months. I've had to deal with many injuries and a lot of paperwork, so my concentration levels have dropped a bit. Given a few more matches, I'm sure things will pick up. But it doesn't look like I'll be given that time."

And Simunic is clearly eager for a return to the S-League as he confirmed that he has been in recent contact with Eagles' officials.

"There is interest on both sides," he said in a telephone interview from his native Croatia.

The outspoken 60-year-old was released by DPMM after a disappointing eighth-place finish last term.

He added: "I respect Kanan greatly and I have no desire to push him out. But if Geylang - or another other club - want my help, I'm ready to come back."

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