Stewart out, Salim back with Rams

[Article published in The New Paper, 19 June 2014]

Their performance raised eyebrows, the result shocked everyone at the Jurong East Stadium, and the subsequent fallout after Woodlands Wellington's 7-1 capitulation to Albirex Niigata has had an even greater impact - it has turned back time.

Darren Stewart has bowed out of the club, with the Rams reverting to the pre-2014 era of former coach Salim Moin, who resigned from Tampines Rovers in April.

"When you get poor results, you don't sack the team - you sack the coach. I'm taking responsibility for the results that haven't quite worked out for us, and I'm sacking myself," Stewart (right) told The New Paper.

Woodlands have lost three of their last five fixtures in the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League, including the hammering by Albirex last week.

HONEST

"I'm always honest with myself, and it seems that I couldn't get the best out of the players - I wasn't the right choice for Woodlands, who have been good to me, and I thank the club for giving me the opportunity to take the team."

A lot was made about the former Australia international's departure at half-time of last Wednesday's thrashing, but the 48-year-old had little to hide.

"I was ill the day before the game, a fact that Luca (Lalic, Woodlands assistant coach) was made aware of. I turned up on matchday to give it a go, but felt worse, and I just needed to get out of there," said Stewart, who revealed that club officials were informed before he left the stadium.

Stewart had earlier this year been linked to the job at A-League side Newcastle Jets, and the Aussie club revealed in April that he had turned down their offer of an interview.

Stewart told TNP then that he did not want to walk away from his commitment to Woodlands.

Woodlands sit in 10th spot in the 12-team standings, ahead only of two of the S.League's young, developmental sides, the Courts Young Lions and Malaysia's Harimau Muda B.

Before Wednesday's collapse, the Rams boasted the best second-best defensive record in the league (19 conceded), behind only leaders DPMM FC's miserly 12 goals.

Woodlands are not standing in the way of a Stewart exit, and have already moved to bring Salim back.

"The club has no intention of terminating (Stewart's) contract, in fact, he requested to step down himself," said Rams' team manager, Bruce Tan.

"Salim was with Woodlands these last few years before going to Tampines, and he knows the boys well," Tan added.

Despite his resignation from Tampines, club chairman Teo Hock Seng had promised to pay out the remainder of Salim's one-year contract.

"I really have to thank Teo, who called me from Australia to give me his blessings, to go to Woodlands," said Salim.

"I can confirm that I have joined Woodlands and it is time to turn the club around and move forward. The first step is to regain self-belief, after a very demoralising 7-1 thrashing."

Salim took two of his staff, Clement Teo and Matthew Tay, to Tampines at the end of last year, but he revealed they will not be following him back to Woodlands.

Having already met the team over the weekend, Salim will lead the Rams out against second-placed Warriors in the S.League on Friday.

Stewart Rejects A-League Job

Photo Credit: Heinkel Heinz

If you were offered a job in your hometown that pays 10 times more than your current salary, would you take it?

Most people would say "yes" immediately.

But Darren Stewart, coach of Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League club Woodlands Wellington, is unlike most people.

The New Paper reported last Thursday that the 47-year-old, who took over the reins before the season started, was on the radar of A-League team Newcastle Jets.

Stewart, a former Australian international defender who played for the Jets' predecessors the Newcastle Breakers, was supposed to fly home yesterday.

But he scrapped the plan after remarkably turning down the offer to be their coach.

He told The New Paper yesterday: "Woodlands have been unbelievable to me since I've joined them.

"When I met two members from the club's committee on Thursday, they said they'd support me and that it was an amazing opportunity. They even offered to pay for my ticket home.

"But I went away for a couple of days after that and realised that walking out on a commitment is not me."

Tough Decision

Stewart showed TNP his lengthy e-mail reply to Jets CEO Robbie Middleby and football adviser Ray Baartz, where he wrote that he had to take the "tough decision" not to "abandon my principles in the light of personal preference and opportunity".

Baartz and Middleby replied separately saying they respected his decision, with former Manchester United player Baartz commending Stewart on his "honesty and integrity".

Stewart's reluctance to break his Woodlands contract is all the more remarkable, considering the wage increase that came with the Jets job.

He declined to share details, but TNP understands he stood to earn a six-figure annual salary at Newcastle - worth at least 10 times more than his current contract with Woodlands.

Stewart, who has spent most of the last 15 years in Singapore as an S.League player and then coach, said: "I've never put money before a contract.

"When I was playing for Johor, I knocked back an offer to play for Selangor which would have tripled my salary.

"And, as a Newcastle player, I also turned down a few offers from bigger clubs for bigger money, because of loyalty.

"I'm probably a lot poorer for it, but that was the way I was brought up."

With a chuckle, he revealed that his close friends and family labelled him "crazy" for turning down the offer.

He said: "A lot of people, like my dad, say I'm an idiot.

"But I was brought up by him! And on the principle that if you offer someone a handshake, you don't walk out on them.

"Even my son told me: Dad, just get on the plane!"

Stewart, however, makes no secret of the fact he still harbours the ambition of coaching the Jets one day.

"That thought will never go away," he said wistfully.

"I was born there, my mum and dad are not young any more, my family and all my mates go to every Jets game.

"The desire to coach the team is up there, but I wouldn't abandon a group of people for money.

"There was just something in my heart that said, 'Don't go back now'.

"But maybe one fine day... you never know."

[Extracted from The New Paper, 08 April 2014]

Rams Hope For 'Milo' Tonic

[Article published in The New Paper, 21 February 2014]

They surpassed expectations to finish fifth in the Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League last season.

Woodlands' hopes of replicating their outstanding 2013 will depend, in some part, on how well their two new "Milo" imports fare.

Defender Milos Jevtic is a no-nonsense centre back who models his game after Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic.

Forward Stefan Milojevic, the former Birmingham City and Monaco man who used to don Geylang International's colours, is another important addition to the squad.

To avoid confusion, the team have resorted to calling Jevtic "Mickey".

New Woodlands coach Darren Stewart believes the Rams could be a force to be reckoned with if their two new foreign imports settle into the S.League quickly.

Said the Australian, who led Balestier Khalsa to the StarHub League Cup last year: "Mickey will get the job done, and Milo, well, everyone knows how good a player he is.

"It's just about getting him back (from a minor back injury) in time.

"The team's not just them, of course, but if they can combine well with the others, we'll do okay because we've got a good solid team here."

CORE SQUAD

Indeed, the Rams have managed to retain the core of the squad that surprised many with their fluid performances last season.

Veteran shot-stopper Yazid Yasin is still around, as are experienced defenders Rosman Sulaiman and Shahril Alias, Japanese midfield general Atsushi Shimono and livewire South Korean forwards Chang Jo Yoon and Moon Soon Ho.

But Stewart is sweating over the fitness of a number of his players, including Rosman (ankle), Shahril (knee), Jevtic (knee) and Milojevic (back).

"Tactically, we've hardly been able to do anything in pre-season," lamented the coach.

"I don't expect our first four games to go tremendously well because I've not had a full squad at all.

"That'll probably mean we will peak a bit later in the season, which might not be such a bad thing."

Yazid admitted Woodlands were much more fortunate with injuries and suspensions last season, and this contributed to their outstanding season.

"We were lucky because each time, at best, maybe we had one or two players out with injuries or suspensions," said the 34-year-old.

"But, apart from that, I don't think there's too much difference between last year's Woodlands and now.

"Everybody's working hard, and looking forward to the new season.

"It's always difficult to replicate a good season but it's up to the players to do their best and try to achieve it. We want to keep moving forward."

KEY TRANSFERS

In: Milos Jevtic (DF, Serbian, Dorcol Beograd) Stefan Milojevic (FW, Serbian, Geylang), Walid Lounis (DF, Tanjong Pagar)

Out: Cho Sung Hwan (DF, South Korean, released), Theerawekin Seehawong (MF, Thai, released), Shariff Allapitchay (DF, Tampines), Ang Zhi Wei (DF, Tampines)

THE COACH

Darren Stewart left Balestier Khalsa under a cloud of controversy at the end of last season after guiding the club to their first piece of silverware in the professional era, the StarHub League Cup.The former Australia international has never finished in the bottom half of the S.League in his five years as a head coach with Gombak United and then Balestier, and will want to keep that record going this season.

ONE TO WATCH

Yazid Yasin turns 35 in June, but the shot-stopper flings himself about during training as though he were still a teenager. His flying saves contributed greatly to Woodlands' top-half finish last season, and he will be depended upon again to lead from the back.

Contenders For S. League Player Of The Year Award

(Source: The New Papers 29/10/2013)

Chang Jo Yoon ~  the contenders for S. League Player of the year award.