Valley pair pay price for league failure
Former champions Happy Valley have sacked manager Lim Fong Kee and assistant coach Cheng Wing-keung in the wake of the club's latest failure in Wednesday's title-deciding league matches.
Valley were held to a 3-3 draw by third-placed Kitchee, a result that handed Sun Hei their second successful league title after the latter defeated Fukien 1-0. Both matches were played at the same time, but at different venues because the teams were level on 31 points from 15 games.
Less than 24 hours after Valley were again pipped at the post by Sun Hei, club management terminated the contracts of Lim and Cheng.
Valley had already sacked another assistant coach, Wong Tak-cheung, after the club lost to arch-rivals Sun Hei in last month's Senior Challenge Shield final.
Valley boss Matthew Koon Wing-yee promised more sackings if the club failed to win the season's remaining trophy - the FA Cup - at Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday. Their opponents will again be Sun Hei.
'Changes had to be made and these people have to leave the club. We have been very unlucky,' said Koon, who warned head coach Chan Hung-ping he also faced the sack if Valley lost on Sunday.
Coach Chan is the only permanent coaching staff member left for Sunday's game.
