AMBITIOUS Instant-Dict may be prepared to throw a Hongkong lifeline to former Eastern striker Dale Tempest. Instant-Dict, who are building a side capable of challenging for the league championship next season, are on the lookout for a centre forward to play alongside former Notts County striker Ian McParland. And team manager Ben Choi, who spoke with Tempest yesterday, said the club would consider making him an offer if they could fit his terms into their projected budget of around $6 million. Said Choi: ''Dale contacted me and said he wanted to stay in Hongkong and I told him I would speak to the boss. ''I have a budget to work with and what Dale was being paid last year is too high for us. He would be on almost double what our other expatriate players will be earning and that is not good for the team.'' Tempest, 29, was released by Eastern on Wednesday after failing to agree terms for next season and has been replaced in the league champions' line-up by Michelotti's Tony Sealy. Eastern team manager Peter Leung said Tempest had turned down the club's final offer worth $850,000 over the season, or around $70,000 a month. Added Choi: ''Dale told me what he was on last year and only two other clubs would be able to afford that - South China and Instant-Dict. ''If our boss is interested in signing him, there is a very slight chance it could come off.'' Instant-Dict, who finished third in the league, have retained striker McParland and midfielder Steve Berry and have signed Kitchee midfielder Sean Edwards as their third overseas player. Choi said they had planned to fill the two vacancies with a couple of strikers given free transfers by clubs in the Scottish Premier Division. Instant-Dict's financial backer, Thomas Tam, will return to Hongkong from a business trip on Monday. Tempest said last night: ''Ben Choi said he would call me next Wednesday with a 'yes' or a 'no'. ''The problem is going to be money. I am looking for what I was earning at Eastern but if Mr Tam is interested in signing me for Instant-Dict I would be prepared to start talking.'' Tempest also revealed that Kitchee had tried to sign him last summer to spearhead their return to the top flight and hoped they would renew their interest. Through a Hongkong contact, Tempest has also been put in touch with a Norwegian First Division club, SK Brann, of Bergen. The Hongkong Football Association, meanwhile, released their final attendance and receipts figures yesterday for the 1992-93 season. Despite the unavailability of the Hongkong Stadium for all but two matches, gate receipts suffered only a slight drop - from $15,159,117 in '91-92 to $14,953,375 last season. Attendances were down by around one third, however, falling from an aggregate of 456,850 in '91-92 to 314,012. The average attendance for league matches was 1,652.
