GEORGE TOWN: Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari has resigned as president of the Penang Football Association (FA) following a bad season by the Penang Panthers in the 2017 Super League.

“Although my journey with the team was a short one, I have gone through a lot. My management and I have done our best.

“We once brought in a famous international coach, but that did not work out. We then changed him for a local legend, Zainal Abidin Hassan.

“Unfortunately, luck was not on our side… I hope our beloved team will rise and shake the league again, like we used to sometime ago.

“I take full responsibility for the team’s failure this season and will resign as president immediately,” he said in a statement uploaded on his Facebook page today.

Zairil also commended Penang’s junior football teams, such as the Under 16s and Under 14s, which did well at the Gothia Teens World Cup in China recently.

Zairil was voted in as Penang FA president this year, taking over from Nazir Ariff Mushir Ariff.

Zairil had previously been the Penang team manager.

With just 12 points on the top tier, Malaysian Super League (MSL), Penang FA looks likely to be relegated from MSL to the second tier — the Malaysian Premier League (MPL).

In the MSL season, which began on Jan 20, Penang FA won three matches, had three draws and lost 15 matches.

They have not won a single match since April 15, when they won 1-0 against Felda United in an away match.

Penang FA will have their last home match this season against Selangor on Oct 28 .

The Panthers have lost the last three matches without scoring a goal.

Fans demand action after Penang Panthers lose bite

Death threats for Penang FA chief, players over winless streak