KUALA LUMPUR — Selangor FC deputy president Datuk Shahril Mokhtar has refuted claims that head coach Nidzam Jamil resigned due to mounting pressure from the fans, following the team’s recent 3-0 defeat at home to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
The resignation, announced with immediate effect, took fans by surprise, especially as speculation had swirled around social media with the hashtag #NJout calling for Nidzam’s exit.
Shahril denied that backlash from fans influenced Nidzam’s decision, revealing instead that the coach had considered stepping down for some time.
“I don’t see why he was under pressure to leave. We are second in the league and are in contention of making it to the next round of the AFC Champions League Two,” Shahril told Scoop.
“I even went online to see if it was true. Honestly, Nidzam wanted to leave a few months ago, but we had a sit-down and he reconsidered.”
Shahril further explained that Nidzam recently returned to the club’s management, reaffirming his decision to resign.
“He came back and told us he wanted to leave. What can we do but respect his decision?” added Shahril.
Nidzam’s departure now leaves Selangor FC in a tough position as they approach the final stretch of the season.
“Quite frankly, this leaves us in a difficult spot because it’s not easy to find a new coach at this stage,” Shahril admitted, hinting at the challenges the club faces in finding a suitable replacement.
For the record, Nidzam took over the reins from former head coach Tan Cheng Hoe at the start of the season in May.
In the meantime, Abdi Hassan will step in as interim head coach, leading the team in their upcoming Super League clash against Kedah on Saturday. — October 30, 2024