The recent takeover of the club by a new management team, led by president Thammawat Wongcharoenyot, signals not just a change in leadership but a desperate plea for a new beginning. In a year of significant change for the sport in Thailand, with the third tier now officially known as the BYD Dolphin League 3 following a major new sponsorship deal, Phuket’s supporters will be hoping their club’s internal reforms can match the league’s professional ambitions.
This transition, widely heralded by the beleaguered fanbase as a long-overdue act of salvation, follows a "disastrous" period under the ownership of Russ Horsely and Amornrat Khuephat, operating as Higher Sports Phuket. Their tenure was defined by disappointment, a catalogue of mismanagement that alienated a once-passionate fanbase. The climax was a harrowing 2024/25 season where the club’s very existence in the league hung by a thread. Survival was only secured on the final day, an act of sheer nerve rather than design, thanks to a late penalty that kept The Lobsters afloat at the expense of a crestfallen Yala FC. The relief was palpable, but it was also a stark warning that the club was at a crossroads.
Sobering
The previous regime’s legacy is a sobering one. Numbers at home games dwindled, a clear and damning indictment of the ownership’s disconnect with the community. The nadir arrived when the club was forced to play the second half of the season away from home in Phang Nga, following the commencement of redevelopment at the Surakul Stadium. For a club that trades on its local identity and community spirit, the forced exile was a cruel blow, severing the few remaining threads connecting the team to its heartland. It highlighted a lack of foresight and stability that ultimately proved untenable.
For the new leadership, the path ahead is fraught with both promise and peril. While their arrival is seen as a welcome breath of fresh air, a significant challenge remains: to win back the trust of the very fans the previous owners pushed away. That task is made no easier by the news that the upcoming season will also be played at the Phang Nga provincial stadium, a necessary but undeniable blow to fans eager for the team’s return home. The new management will need to demonstrate clear progress and communicate their long-term plans effectively to maintain supporter morale during this difficult transitional period.
Optimism
Yet, there are strong reasons for optimism. The new regime, which includes Wanchalerm Wongcharoenyot as vice president, Krisada Oin as director and Pisut Boonkoi as team manager, is not a collection of unknown outsiders. Many of the new faces are, in fact, old faces – individuals with deep roots in the club’s pre-Higher Sports era.
This return of familiar figures suggests a commitment to the club’s original values and a desire to restore its former identity. Their collective experience and understanding of the local football landscape is a crucial asset that was sorely lacking under the previous ownership.
Central to this new chapter is the appointment of Pisut Boonkoi, or ‘Coach Go’ as he is widely known, who returns for his third spell at the club. His presence alone is likely to herald the return of many familiar faces, both on the pitch and in the dugout, offering a much-needed sense of continuity and stability. Coach Go’s challenge will be to rebuild a competitive squad from the ashes of the previous season and to implement a style of play that reconnects with the fans. The broader context of Thai football offers new opportunities, with AIS taking over the TV rights for all leagues, including the T3. This increased television exposure could provide a financial and morale boost for clubs that perform well.
However, the new management’s most significant hurdle lies not on the pitch, but in the boardroom. The lingering shadow of “match-fixing” has long cast a pall over the club’s results and practices. While not the fault of the new owners, it is an image they will be forced to confront and dismantle. To truly turn the page, The Lobsters’ new leaders must operate with a level of transparency and integrity that leaves no room for doubt. This is not merely about winning games; it is about restoring the club’s soul and ensuring its every action is beyond reproach. The new leadership’s success will be measured by their ability to not only improve results but to rebuild the club’s reputation from the ground up, a task that requires patience, honesty, and a steadfast commitment to ethical standards.
The path to redemption for Phuket Andaman FC will be a long and difficult one. The challenge is immense, from re-engaging a disillusioned fanbase to shaking off the ghosts of seasons past. Yet, for a community that cherishes its football team, this takeover represents a glimmer of hope – a chance for The Lobsters to not just survive, but to thrive once again. The new executives have inherited a broken club, and it is now up to them to mend it, brick by painstaking brick. Their success will be measured not just in league positions, but in the return of the roar to the stands, and the belief in a brighter, cleaner future for football in Phuket.
Simon Causton is the co-host of ‘The Football Siam Podcast’ and writer of the ‘Football Siam’ blog which covers all things Thai football.