SINGAPORE, Sept 6 — Local football icon Fandi Ahmad is set to part ways with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), leaving a coaching void in the heart of the Singapore national football team ahead of their major task of the year.

The 54-year-old former Lions star striker’s contract with the association runs out in November, and it is believed the national team assistant coach had not been able to agree terms with the FAS on an extension.

TODAY understands that the FAS will meet with him on Thursday (Sept 8) in a last-ditch attempt to keep the legend.

In a statement, a FAS spokesman said: "The FAS has been in talks with Fandi for several months. We see Fandi continuing to play an important and significant role in Singapore football but it is premature to comment as our talks are still ongoing. As such, contractual details remain confidential. We will make an announcement once there is something conclusive to announce.”

Fandi, who is currently away in Indonesia, could not be reached for comment today.

The sticking point appears to be non-financial, with sources revealing that the FAS had been unable to agree with Fandi his future role at the association.

In past meetings dating back early this year, Fandi had stated his preferred future role and presented his plans to the FAS.

It is believed the 2000 S.League Coach of the Year wanted to focus on developing young players. In particular, he expressed keen interest in assembling a team to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

However, even after months of talks, no agreement was reached.

Now, Fandi is said to be mulling over several lucrative offers from Malaysian clubs. He has been linked to the head coach post at Malaysian Super League club Pahang, where he won the Malaysia League and Cup double as a player in 1992. There are suggestions, too, that he may return to Johor as coach of its Malaysian Premier League side Johor Darul Ta’zim II.

Fandi’s impending exit may leave a vacuum in the national team coaching set-up ahead of November’s ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.

He has taken on the role of Lions assistant coach — first to German Bernd Stange and then his successor Sundram — since June last year.

Hugely popular and highly-respected in the Lions dressing room, he has played a crucial role in the development of the younger national players like Gabriel Quak, Madhu Mohana, Izwan Mahbud and Faris Ramli.

If Fandi is to join Pahang, this will not be the first time he’s coaching a Malaysian club. He enjoyed a patchy stint with Johor Darul Ta’zim in 2012 and 2013, before returning to Singapore in 2014 to lead the now defunct LionsXII to Malaysian FA Cup glory a year later.

Pahang have been disappointing in the Malaysian Super League this season, with Razip Ismail’s men rooted at the bottom of the 12-team competition, having won just three times in 19 games so far. — TODAY