PSSI, Withe to sign deal on Wednesday

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Peter Withe of Britain, who arrived here last Thursday, is scheduled to sign a four-year coaching contract with the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) on Wednesday.

Muhammad Zein, PSSI's official in charge of the national teams, confirmed the plan last Thursday but said the details had to be worked out before putting pen to paper.

Zein said that since arriving here, the former Thailand national squad coach and his family had been house hunting.

Should a contract be signed, the former Aston Villa striker will supervise almost all of the national teams in the different age groups, leaving only the senior team in the hands of Bulgarian Ivan Venkov Kolev.

However, Withe is expected to get focused on the Under-20 team.

Zein doubted that there would be a long-term relationship between Kolev and Withe, as the Bulgarian once told the PSSI he would quit if the association hired another foreign coach.

Kolev's contract expires in August and Zein said the PSSI would offer him another contract only if the coach conjured up several miracles and led the team to victory in the Asian Cup and upcoming qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup.

Zein did not say how much Withe would be paid, though he did hint it would be in the same range as what the Briton made in Thailand.

According to reports, Withe received about US$14,000 a month in Thailand. His term there ended in November, a month after he was suspended following the Thai team's failure to qualify for the Athens Olympics.