PETALING JAYA: Melaka’s turbulent season took another dramatic turn on Sunday when two coaches resigned within the space of a few days.
Head coach K. Devan resigned just days before their Super League clash against Selangor, while assistant coach S. Subramaniam confirmed his departure after losing to the Red Giants on Sunday.
Subramaniam was handed the task of leading the team at short notice, and the change appeared to affect Melaka, who were humbled 0-3 by Selangor at the Petaling Jaya Stadium.
Selangor struck early through Noor Al-Rawabdeh in the second minute before Alvin Fortes (10th) and Chrigor Moraes (13th) added to Melaka’s woes.
The loss left Melaka rooted at 12th in the standings with just six points from 12 matches.
Subramanian was nonchalant when announcing his decision to quit.
“I’ve decided to resign. I want to thank the club for giving me the opportunity to work here for a year and 10 months,” he said.
“This isn’t due to a difference of opinion, but rather because it is extremely difficult to work under tight constraints.
“With a lack of foreign players and frequent injuries, the team’s competitiveness is hindered.
“If you analyse all our 12 games, our weakness is clear. We lack sufficient quality in our foreign signings due to our modest budget.
“Despite that, I praise the club’s management. My salary was never late, and player’s welfare was always a priority. But for this club to move forward, they need a financial injection specifically for foreign players. I hope they take action on that.”
Subramaniam’s concerns made sense as the team stood no chance against Selangor, powered by six foreigners.
“The first 13 minutes were crucial but our entire game plan was disrupted during that period against stronger opponents,” he said.
“They had six foreigners, while we had only two or three. In this league, all teams depend heavily on imports, and that difference is clear.
“Melaka are only in their third year, having started in the M3 League in 2023. We are the youngest club in the Super League, and the strategy has always been to spend cautiously.
“As a result, our foreign players are not yet at the level required for this competition.’’
He described Melaka as effectively operating like a development side in a league that demands immediate performance.
“The Super League is not a place for exposure. It’s about high performance. Our local players have a great attitude, but without quality foreign attackers, it’s very difficult. That’s the reality.”
