With allegations of bribery and dismissal of former coach Kim Jong-kook, Kia Tigers’ next coach is expected to draw keen attention. Kia has faced a serious unfavorable factor as it has to start its spring camp without a head coach. Of course, it has already made a big mistake, so there is no need to move in a hurry. It will take some time before a new manager of Kia is appointed.월카지노주소
On Jan. 29, the KIA team suspended manager Kim Jong-kook from his duties on the 28th, and confirmed through its own investigation today that Kim Jong-kook is currently a suspect and is under investigation by the prosecution on charges of “delegation.” Regardless of the results of the prosecution’s investigation, the team decided to terminate the contract with manager Kim Jong-kook, judging that it was an act of “damage to the dignity.” The team officially announced that it will appoint a successor as soon as possible.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s Major Crime Investigation Department (chief prosecutor Lee Il-kyu), which was investigating former general manager Jang Jung-seok, applied for an arrest warrant for former head coach Kim Jong-guk on charges of breach of trust and bribery.
Former general manager Jang Jong-seok was immediately dismissed in March last year on charges of demanding back money from catcher Park Dong-won (LG Twins). While the KBO has requested a prosecution investigation into the allegation of former general manager Jang Jung-seok’s money, it was not until the end of the year that the prosecution’s investigation results were substantially advanced, leading to an application for an arrest warrant. The prosecution also found that former coach Kim Jong-guk received money from a club sponsor during the search and seizure of former general manager Jang Jong-seok.
Former coach Kim Jong-guk and former general manager Jang Jung-seok were examined in the Seoul Central District Court on Jan. 30. The examination, which started at 10:30 a.m., lasted for about two hours until 12:30 a.m. After the examination, former coach Kim Jong-guk and former general manager Jang Jong-seok moved to the detention center and waited for an arrest warrant to be issued. Both Kim Jong-guk and Jang Jong-seok remained silent and noncommittal while undergoing substantial examination of the arrest warrant.
About nine hours after the end of the screening, Yoo Chang-hoon, a senior judge at the Seoul Central District Court, rejected the arrest warrant request for former coach Kim Jong-guk and former general manager Jang Jung-seok, who are accused of breach of trust.
“When looking at the sponsorship process, such as the details and timing of the sponsorship company’s advertising sponsorship and the involvement of the suspect, it is necessary to guarantee the right to defend against whether the money received is in return for illegal solicitation,” Chief Judge Yoo said. “Given the investigation so far, the suspect’s attitude toward responsibility, and the suspect’s career, it is difficult to say that there is a risk of destroying evidence or running away.”
Eventually, former coach Kim Jong-guk avoided arrest and continued his investigation without physical detention. However, the KIA team, whose manager disappeared due to unfavorable circumstances, left for the Australian spring camp on the same day in a dark atmosphere. Kia’s general manager Shim Jae-hak, who faced a sudden bad news, also has to deal with the managerial absence.
“I asked the coaches not to be swayed and to take the lead in a brighter atmosphere while training as usual. I had a lot of work to do, but I thought I had to see the players’ faces, so I hurriedly came down to Gwangju. I apologized and apologized to the players on behalf of the team, regardless of who was at fault. I ordered them not to be swayed and focus on their training,” Shim Jae-hak said on Jan. 30.
At the first Canberra Spring Camp, which focuses on technical training rather than actual matches, there will be no big problem. However, coach’s presence is clearly needed at the second Okinawa Spring Camp, where practice matches begin.
“The first spring camp is a training program that was already established during the strategic planning seminar, and it seems that it will be possible without any major problems. Still, it is true that a coach is needed for the second spring camp. I think the selection of a coach will be made in consideration of that,” Shim said.
Shim said that no new coach has been listed for the next head coach as of Tuesday. “We have to open up all directions and think about them,” Shim said. It is hard to bring a leader who is currently in a different club. The candidate list is inevitably narrower than other times. We need to be more cautious without urgent appointment. Also, I think a new coach will come as the coach for this season remains the same.”
KIA will leave for its spring camp in Okinawa on Feb. 22. Chances are high that the new manager will join the team at least before this period. If the team appoints a new manager carefully, as Shim said, the outline will likely come out beyond the Lunar New Year holiday. We wonder who will be the new head coach for Kia in the 2024 season, which is evaluated as a champion after overcoming the current turmoil.