James Wong welcomed former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s call for a leadership change, saying there would be no continuity if politics continues to influence such appointments.
Such practices would result in frequent changes in senior management, he said.
“Different people have different ideas on how to do things. When appointments are partisan-based, there will be no sustainability in programmes for future generations.
“So, maybe with Khairy’s suggestion we can fare better. There may be failures along the way, but there must be perseverance.
“Only then can we hope to achieve success,” the former centre-forward, once hailed by fans as “King James”, told FMT.
Wong said continuity in football programmes was important to enhance the game at grassroot level and ensure the sport’s long-term success.
He said Khairy’s proposal was timely as football development programmes appear to have stagnated recently.
Last Friday, Khairy, a former FAM deputy president, said the time was ripe for the national football body to undergo a leadership change to ensure the sport’s long-term development.
He suggested that someone with experience from outside the sports management sector helm the body. He said corporate leaders may be ideal, given their commitment to best practices in management, governance and administration.
Meanwhile, Wong’s former teammate Santokh Singh suggested that a “quick fix” may also be necessary to improve the nation’s footballing fortunes.
He said the coaches of both the national men’s senior and Under-23 teams ought to be sacked following their teams’ recent dismal performances.
“A change of coach can make a difference to a team of the same players,” the former national defender said.
The senior team recently suffered back-to-back 2-0 losses to Oman in the second round of the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup Qualifying campaign, extending its poor run of form since a topsy-turvy performance at the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar, earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the Under-23 squad ended its campaign in the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup with a hattrick of defeats, losing 1-2 to Kuwait, following 0-2 defeats to both Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Santokh also questioned the national body’s decision to hire “unproven” foreign coaches for the national team and called for E Elavarasan to be reinstated as coach of the Under-23 side.
Elavarasan had been replaced by former Barcelona chief scout Juan Torres Garrido in October last year.