Thai Premier League 2010 Kick Off Soon

Due to the success of last year’s Thai Premier League, this year competition has received many new giant sponsors and more teams have been set up to compete in the tournament. One of the biggest and newest sponsors is  an energy drink company called ‘Sponsor’ who has signed to be the offcial sponsor for the Thai Premier League for one year with the budget of 25 million baht. The offcial name given for this year’s season is the Sponsor Thai Premier League 2010.

Mr. Warawee Makudee, President of the Thailand Football Association said, “We are honored to have ‘Sponsor’ fund the Thai Premier League. With their help we will be able to make this season even bigger and better. Our aim is to make our league in standard with the Asian Football Association (AFC) by the year 2012. If we can achieve that then we will be qualifed to compete in the AFC Champion League without having to compete in the playoff round like we do today.”

There are a total of 16 teams that will be competing in the league, with Muangthong United as the defending champions. Sriracha, Chula United and Nakhon Pathom were relegated to the 2010 Thai Division 1 League after fnishing the 2009 season in the bottom three places. The three relegated teams were replaced by 2009 Thai Division 1 League champions Police United, runners-up Royal Thai Army and third place Sisaket. TTM Samut Sakhon and PEA were renamed to TTM Phichit and Buriram PEA, they moved location to Phichit and Buriram. PEA renamed after the club takeover by Newin Chidchob.