A former Brighton and Hove Albion staff member has been sacked from his job as manager of the Philippines national team by Twitter.
Simon McMenemy, 33, came back to Sussex for Christmas after the Philippines reached the semi-finals of the Suzuki Cup in South East Asia.
Even though this was the national side’s best ever performance, Mr McMenemy was replaced as head coach.
He said: “It’s a sore one to take as it got leaked on Twitter.”
Mr McMenemy worked as Albion’s football and health development officer and last season he was assistant manager at Worthing.
But in August he became the youngest international football manager when he took the reins of the Philippines.
His success on the pitch – with three wins, five draws and two defeats in ten games – caught the nation’s imagination during the Suzuki Cup.
He told the Worthing Herald http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/sport/football/local-football/macca_s_reign_as_philippines_coach_ends_1_2291712: “There were two presidents of the Philippines Football Federation while we were in the Suzuki Cup.
“The new president, approved by FIFA, got appointed soon afterwards and the German Federation offered finance, which they do with a lot of other countries, to help develop the team.
“But, in return, they wanted their own coach.
“It’s unfortunate but is one of those things.
“The president, who was at a wedding, ended up having to do a television interview over the phone to explain what had happened, although that was still done before he told me.
“I’m frustrated because it feels like a job half done but if you can’t handle decisions like this, you shouldn’t be in the industry.
“It’s just part and parcel of football.
“I’m waiting for the Philippines Football Federation to call me.
“They’ve said they don’t want to lose me and are putting together something for me.”
He said that he could be offered the job of head coach of the Philippines under-23s.
His success in a matter of months of switching from non-league football to international level means that he is unlikely to be short of offers.
