Former South China coach Kim Pan-gon is poised to make a quick return to Hong Kong to take up a newly-created academy coach job before a new national team manager arrives.
After two failed attempts to secure a high-calibre candidate for the top coaching job, the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) will recruit someone for a middle-ranking position to handle coaching matters as an interim measure.
Although the new post still needs to go through an open recruitment process - expected to be launched by the HKFA this week - it is believed the South Korean, who left South China for health reasons in December 2010, is the favourite. A technical director will also be hired, to look after coaching education, grassroots development and mini and women's soccer.
The two appointments, both funded by the government under its soccer revival scheme, Phoenix Project, are expected to bring more overseas expertise and knowledge to build strong foundations for the future.
'We need people to start all the ground work and cannot put everything on hold until the arrival of the new team manager,' said a well-informed source at the HFKA.
'The academy coach is not the national team manager and the requirements are different. We want someone who is familiar with the Hong Kong set-up but can bring new expertise and knowledge to the game. A local candidate may not fit the requirements and ideally we are looking for someone from overseas.'