Gian Chansrichawla
Football Tribe SEA Editor
According to speculation on social media, Thai League 1 side PTT Rayong may face disbandment after their corporate backers, the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, may be unwilling to sustain funding for the club in the coming seasons.
It appears that the club will make a decision on whether or not to keep the club in the Thai League system on the 28th of October, two days after the conclusion of the season.
BAD RUMOR: PTT group has decided to suspend the participation of PTT Rayong FC in Thai League 1 next season. The club will announce this on this 26 October….
This decision could make them start at the bottom of Thai League pyramid when the club resume their operation again. pic.twitter.com/ttyxM7lGCe
— All Things Thai Football (@ThaiFootballs) October 22, 2019
If the club are to be disbanded, it is likely that their club license will be revoked, forcing them to start again from the fourth tier when they choose to continue. Alternatively, PTT could sell the club, which could result in relocation, with many provinces looking to move clubs into their area.
The rumours were fuelled by comments from PTT Rayong coach Teerasak Po-On, who posted the following on Twitter:
⛽🔥💪💪🙏🙏❤❤ pic.twitter.com/dS0V31Tr7X
— Teerasak Po-on (@PoTeerasak) October 24, 2019
Formed in 1998 as a subsidiary of the company, the club settled down in Rayong back in 2010 and completed the construction of their purpose-built PTT Stadium back in 2012.
The club was relegated from the top division in 2014 and managed three consecutive top-half finishes in the second tier without earning promotion back to T1.
However, the clubs fortunes have improved considerably under the guidance of coach Teerasak. The side won T2 in 2019, bouncing back to the top flight. They confirmed their survival with two weeks to spare in the season, and sit in 11th place out of 16 going into the last game of the season.