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SCMP Reporter

EASTERN manager Peter Leung Shou-chi - one of the most respected men in the local game - has announced the end of his 10-year soccer career.

  Leung's shock announcement came minutes after Eastern had lost 3-0 to Rangers in the FA Cup final.

  Most of Eastern's present and former players were shocked by Leung's move and said it was a big loss to local football.

  Leung cited the unfair suspension of Eastern striker Paul Nixon by the Hong Kong Football Association disciplinary committee meeting last Monday as the main reason for his retirement.

  Nixon was suspended for one game and was unable to play yesterday.

 Nixon was found guilty of verbally abusing reserve linesman Fung Hoi-heem during Eastern's league match against Rangers on May 23.

 In Fung's report, he claimed that Nixon, who had been substituted, rushed to the sideline and cheered when Eastern scored. When Fung asked Nixon to return to the bench, the Englishman verbally abused him.

 Leung said that the linesman's report was a nonsense. 'He [linesman Fung] told the discplinary committee that he saw a player with a number eight shirt come out to the sideline from the bench and swear at him. But I can tell you, at that moment Nixon was wearing a jacket which I had given him when he was substituted. How did he [Fung] know that was Nixon?   'Fung could not explain his report, but the HKFA vice-president Veronica Chan was on his side. Therefore, Nixon was suspended. Whatever Veronica Chan says can alter the decision of the disciplinary committee. The displinary committee is supposed to be very fair and just, but it is always controlled by a small group of people who are influential in the HKFA.'   Leung said the HKFA council treated some of the senior clubs badly. He highlighted the case of Kitchee chairman Ken Ng in the exhibition matches featuring Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur on May 20 and May 21.

  The HKFA council refused to let Ng hold the matches, which were originally planned to feature Kitchee and Eastern, on the same day and ordered both clubs to give up the Arsenal match to Rangers.

  'I feel sorry for Ken [Ng] that he lost a huge sum of money because of the council's decision,' said 41-year-old Leung.

  But Leung said his retirement was not a sudden decision.

  'When the HKFA let the referees' committee set up the HKFA Registered Referees Company Limited at the beginning of this season and let their representatives join the council without any good reason, I started to think about pulling out from local football.

  'Hong Kong is not an ideal place to run football clubs properly any more.'   Leung's career in football management started 10 years ago when he joined South China as manager. Three years later he became the manager of the defunct Lai Sun Double Flowers and transferred to Eastern four years ago.

  His retirement is effective immediately - including his title as Eastern manager, council member of the HKFA and chairman of the Hong Kong Chinese Footballers Association (HKCFA).

  But he added he would finish his job with the HKCFA as soon as possible and settle the contract signings of Eastern players before his departure.

  Eastern skipper Lee Kin-wo is on a private contract with Leung, but said he would stay at Eastern if the money was good.

  Eastern have already lost one of their most important players - midfielder Lo Kai-wa - who is set to sign with Golden.

  Leung said he would arrange talks for players who want to change clubs: 'Although I'm leaving, I will take care of my players first.' 



Leung quits as Eastern manager