Leung said he appreciated the efforts of many people who worked tirelessly to help create a new professional league, but admitted they were facing an uphill battle. The proposed league has been put on hold for at least 12 months by the FA.

'I wish them good luck, but the reality is there are a lot of constraints in developing football. Many people are here only for their own agenda and personal interest always comes first,' he said. 'I feel sorry that Eastern quit the first division after such a brief time.

'The fan base for Hong Kong football is narrowing quickly with more and more live television coverage of top matches from all over the world,' said Leung. 'Times have changed and you cannot expect fans to come and watch domestic competitions as they used to do in the 1990s. In those days, we could fill the Hong Kong Stadium three or four times a season, but nowadays it is very difficult to get spectators to the stadium.'

Last season, the highest attendance for a domestic competition was 4,228 for a league double-header featuring Fourway against Pegasus and South China against Kitchee in November. On the other hand, only 95 fans watched Happy Valley defeat Xiangxue Eisiti 1-0 at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground.

Leung cited his health for quitting the game. 'I had an operation on my cervical vertebrae two years ago which has restricted my body movement and I only attended one training session all season,' he said. 'This is not the perfect way to run a club, leaving me little option but to quit.'

Leung hoped most of the Eastern players would find deals with other clubs, as well as coaches Lee Kin-wo and Chan Hiu-ming. Chan is believed to be talking with Pegasus, while Lee, 41, who recently announced his retirement as a player, might return to Sun Hei.