LEAGUE champions Eastern stunned Hongkong football yesterday by axeing their leading scorer, Dale Tempest.
In a shock move, Eastern team manager Peter Leung said they would replace Tempest with Tony Sealy - one of three expatriate players owed more than $100,000 by First Division crisis club Michelotti.
Tempest, who has played in Hongkong for the past four seasons, said he was ''amazed'' by the news when he was contacted last night in the Isle of Wight, where he is on holiday with his family.
''I thought I had agreed terms with Eastern before I flew out of Hongkong on Tuesday night but it looks like I have been done,'' said Tempest.
''The club have even provided me with return tickets so I can report back for pre-season training on August 1. The difference between us in terms of money was only a few dollars and I was assured everything would be sorted out when I got back to Hongkong.
''You think you know people and can trust them but obviously that is not the case.