Coach Dinh The Nam (photo: NLD).

After it dismissed Riedl, Hai Phong considered Le Thuy Hai as an ideal candidate. The club tried its best to have a contract with Le Thuy Hai but it failed.

The only problem in this affair is Le Thuy Hai’s contract with The Cong club, under which he is the technical advisor to Managing Director Ho Tri Liem.

Hai Phong was willing to help Le Thuy Hai pay compensation once he terminates this contract. It also offered a monthly pay of $5,000 and said to give Le Thuy Hai the right to choose his assistants and players.

Le Thuy Hai paid a visit to Hai Phong and agreed with this club’s conditions but this morning, March 5, he officially refused Hai Phong’s invitation to stay with The Cong.

Hai Phong invited coach Tran Van Phuc but Phuc also refused the invitation. Phuc is a senior coach who worked with Binh Duong and Thanh Hoa clubs. Phuc decided to retire in 2008, refusing many invitations. He is now a member of the National Coaching Board, in charge of choosing talents for the national squad.

Finally, Hai Phong invited Dinh The Nam, a former player of The Cong club and Hai Phong Police team as its new coach. Nam agreed and he met with Hai Phong team this afternoon.

On March 6, Nam will take the team to the central highlands city of Pleiku to prepare for the match against Hoang Anh Gia Lai on March 7.

This is the second time Dinh The Nam assuming the chief coach position at Hai Phong club. The first time was in 2005. Nam’s assistants are captain Dang Van Thanh, and the two coaches of Hai Phong club’s U19 team, Pham Van Thanh and Bui Vinh Quang.

VietNamNet/VNE