GEORGE TOWN, March 24 — The Football Association of Penang (FAP) has appointed Selangor’s former chief coach and football legend Zainal Abidin Hassan as the new head coach.

Zainal will replace Ashley Westwood whose contract was terminated last Sunday amid a dismal performance in the 2017 Malaysia Super League season, FAP president Zairil Khir Johari announced today.

"He has a very good track record as the former Pahang and Selangor chief coach and I hope he will be able to lead Penang’s Panthers to better performance for the Super League this year,” he said in a press conference today.

He voiced his confidence in Zainal Abidin who is an experienced coach and was also a legendary football player previously.

"I am confident that our Penang team is capable, they only needed proper guidance and motivation to perform,” he said.

He said Zainal Abidin just came back from United Kingdom and brought back with him experiences from an English club in the Championship league, Cardiff City FC.

"We hope he will be able to restore the Penang football team’s spirit and at the same time ensure Penang remains in the Super League until the end of the season,” he said.

Last Sunday, Westwood had relinquished his post as chief coach after arriving at an agreement with FAP on ending his contract.

Zairil said the FAP was concerned over the Penang team’s poor performance especially when it only managed to score two points from eight matches in the Super League 2017.

Zainal Abidin will start work from Monday onwards and will be leading the team until the end of the season, he said.

At the same press conference, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced a contribution of RM3 million to FAP by Penang Water Supply Corporation.

This is in addition to the RM4 million funding it had received before this.