Port FC have relieved head coach Jadet Meelarp of his duties following Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to BG Pathum United on Thai League Matchday Seven

Jadet leaves the post for the third time, despite the club having played just twice since the league was suspended in March. 

Port have moved quickly to replace Jadet on an interim basis, with first-team coach Sarawut Treephan taking over for the time being. Sarawut has been in various roles over the past eight years, but is perhaps best remembered for his role as assistant manager at Muangthong United from 2009-2012.

Jadet’s future remains unclear. The previous two times he was removed from the head coach position, he was made technical director. 

Club owner Nualphan ‘Madam Pang’ Lamsan ended Jadet’s latest spell in Klong Toey, having seen Port’s star-studded squad lose their first two matches since the return to action.

The first was lost by forfeit, as the power failed at the PAT Stadium just two minutes from the end of a game they were drawing 1-1 with Police Tero.

On Saturday, they were largely outclassed by a more cohesive BG side, with Jadet’s team adding up to less than the sum of its parts again.

Sarawut will be considered as a stop-gap by most, but there are huge question marks over who can now make the best of arguably the strongest squad in the Thai League. 

Since Japan’s Masahiro Wada left the club in 2016, Port have employed only Thai head coaches, with Jadet’s three reigns broken up by stints for Kiatisuk Senamuang and Choketawee Promrut. 

It remains to be seen, if Madam Pang will now follow a different path this time around, though the internal politics at the club will surely be a consideration for any interested parties. Port have now appointed and sacked the same head coach three times in four years as undoubted progress on the pitch is threatened by what happens off it.

Sarawut takes over with Port sitting in seventh place in T1, five points behind leaders Bangkok United, having played a game more. He has the perfect opportunity to get the team back on track as they visit bottom-of-the-table Trat on Saturday.