Three weeks of empty-handed relegation Incheon, Golden Time is passing
Dec 16, 2024
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'Golden Time' is passing by. This is the story of Incheon United, which was relegated. Incheon remained at the bottom of the K League 1 (division 1) in the 2024 season, and suffered the humiliation of the second division relegation for the first time since its foundation. The aftermath was intense. CEO Jeon Moon-soo stepped down to take responsibility for the relegation. Immediately, he left Incheon City. On the 25th of last month, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok launched an emergency innovation committee headed by Choi Dae-hyuk, head of Sogang University's Future Innovation Research Institute, vice chairman of the Korea Football Association's ethics committee. Shim Chan-gu, Incheon's Planning and Coordination Director, was appointed as the interim CEO.
It's already been about 20 days. In the meantime, the Emergency Innovation Committee held several meetings. But nothing has been decided. The Emergency Innovation Committee, which should focus on improving the club's constitution and innovation measures, was criticized for focusing only on personnel issues from the first meeting. In particular, in the case of Choi Young-geun, despite the remaining contract period, rumors of his replacement as well as his replacement were circulated. Earlier this month, he had a meeting with the head of the club and manager Choi on his future, but no conclusion was reached.
Nevertheless, the Emergency Innovation Committee seems to be focusing on the appointment of a new director. It is known that the team has recently selected candidates for the coach. Gwangju FC coach Lee Jung-hyo, Seoul E-Land coach Kim Do-kyun, FC Anyang coach Yoo Byung-hoon, and former Hwaseong FC coach Joo Seung-jin are mentioned. Most of them were current directors, and all of them were candidates who were not realistic. In the process, there is even a mismatch between the emergency innovation committee and the team's leadership. There are rumors inside and outside the soccer community that the head of the club is contacting the candidates of the Emergency Innovation Committee and other figures separately. There is even a rumor that even personnel irrelevant to the club were involved in the process.
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Incheon plans to convene its squad on the 26th and go on a training trip to Thailand on January 2 next year. If things go wrong, it could lead to half-training. I can't even prepare properly, and I can play in the season. K League 2 is 'War'. Busan I'Park and Jeonnam Dragons, who failed to be promoted in the first year of relegation, are rarely out of the swamp of the second division. The same goes for Suwon Samsung. It is not easy even with thorough preparation, but rather, Incheon itself tied its hands and feet.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
