Home reject Korean's plans to settle dispute

FORMER Home United footballer Jeon Kyeong Joon is prepared to drop his appeal to Fifa.

However, this is provided that the S-League club agree to his compensation terms.

And, according to Home, that is not going to happen.

Jeon is claiming that, in November last year, he was duped into terminating his contract which was to run until the end of this year.

Yesterday, the 33-year-old's agent Jang Ki Hyun sent a faxed letter to Home, giving them until today to settle the dispute amicably.

The South Korean midfielder has given the club three options:

Continue the original contract.

Compensate him three months' salary, and help him get a him new club.

Compensate one year's salary in lump sum.

However, Home's general manager K. T. Velu said: 'We are not going to accede to any of his demands. We will be sending a letter to the player to explain our stand.'

He added that, after the terminating Jeon's contract, the club had subsequently sacked him for failing to turn up for training twice in late November and early December.

This was possible because, under the terms of the termination, the midfielder was still contracted to Home until Dec 31, 2006.

Said Velu: 'We have acted transparently. If he insists on going to Fifa, we will be able to defend ourselves.'

According to Jang, he will report the case to Fifa tomorrow, should he not hear from the club by today.

Jeon claims that he had signed the letter of termination dated Nov 9, 2006 without knowledge of its contents, as he did not understand English.

He had thought it was an agreement for revised terms for the new season.

An interpreter was understood to be present at the meeting, but Jang claims that he was incompetent and did not manage to relay the letter's contents across adequately.

The former South Korea Olympic team player signed for Home from K-League side Jeonbuk Motors on a two-year deal last March.

He scored 13 goals last year.

Said Jang: 'Jeon is happy in Singapore and his first option is still to continue playing here.'

Regardless of the outcome, Jeon will not be able to play in the S-League until the transfer window re-opens in July.

He has not been registered with any club, but is volunteering as an assistant coach at the Korean Super Reds.

Incidentally, Home United face the Super Reds in the S-League season opener on Sunday at the Bishan Stadium.