Westwood ‘pushing’ Hong Kong football bosses to improve, insists assistant will stay
Hong Kong face Philippines at Hong Kong Stadium on Thursday, before tackling Mauritius at intimate Mong Kok next Tuesday
Ashley Westwood said he would continue pushing local football bosses to “make as many improvements as possible”, as he claimed recently-installed assistant boss Matt Holland was “an improvement on what [Hong Kong] had before I got here”.
Head coach Westwood is set for his third match in charge when Hong Kong face the Philippines on Thursday night. In his opening two games last month, Hong Kong were beaten 1-o in Liechtenstein, before disposing of Cambodia 3-0.
Welshman Holland, who previously helped Westwood with Indian side Bengaluru and the Afghanistan national team, joined the Hong Kong coaching staff for those matches. He should again be by Westwood’s side for the Philippines clash at Hong Kong Stadium, in addition to next Tuesday’s Mong Kok Stadium meeting with Mauritius.
Holland is expected to be confirmed as the new head coach of Lee Man following the current Fifa window.
Westwood pleaded ignorance over the speculation around his No 2’s future, but said a job with the reigning Hong Kong champions would not affect Holland’s representative team role, which is limited to work during international windows.
“We have a lot of part-time staff, they are paid a minimal day rate to offer assistance, guidance and expertise,” Westwood said. “That’s the way the federation is set up. It’s how it was before I got here and nothing to do with me.
