Dung quits Hai Phong after winning silver

End of the road: Vuong Tien Dung has quit as coach of V-League team Hai Phong Cement. — VNS Photo Quang Thang

Rumours of a rift between Dung and the board have been rife since the first half of last season. After several poor results in their opening games, the Hai Phong management lost faith in the coach and started to look for a replacement. However, they could not find a suitable candidate so Dung stayed at the club, guiding them to second in the V-League which closed on August 22.

"Towards the end of the season, I was contacted by several other clubs but I really wanted to stay near my family. I've been with Hai Phong for three years and really love the club. It is difficult to leave," Dung said.

Hai Phong chairman Mai Hong Hai offered a contract extension to Dung who was also promised control over transfers going into the new season.

Dung, a former player of The Cong, was reported to have indicated that he would be staying at a press conference.

However, the situation changed rapidly. Chairman Hai took over the transfer dealings and striker Leandro, the teams top foreigner, refused to agree a new contract while local forward Ngoc Thanh definitively said goodbye.

Defender Nguyen Minh Duc then decided to sign for the First Division's Quang Nam after his salary request was rejected while defender Trong Nghia planned to join his former teammate Ngoc Thanh at HCM City's Navibank Sai Gon. Nghia also received an attractive offer from Hoa Phat Ha Noi.

Meanwhile, Hai Phong spent billions of dong on bringing new signings to Lach Tray Stadium but without Dung's approval. Dinh Hoang Max, Xuan Phu and Duc Duong were never likely to feature in any of his teams next season and there have been no new additions to the squad since the V-League finished.

"I am on holiday with my family at present," said Dung. "I want to test my capacity in a new environment. There are some offers but I have not agreed to any of them."

"My point is clear. I will join a club where the board respect both me and my decisions in all matters."

Dung arrived at Hai Phong in 2008 after the team had gained promotion to the national premier league after spending a year in the First Division. The Hanoian coach helped Hai Phong to finish third that year.

It was the best finish in the club's history but it did not help Dung retain his position. He was replaced by Austrian Alfred Riedl who was former national team manager.

Riedl was fired just three games into V-League 2009 and Dinh The Nam, his replacement, did not last much longer. It marked Dung's return to the club and he helped them finish seventh, despite a terrible start to the season.

This year, they finished just one point behind champions Ha Noi T&T. — VNS