Boeung Ket Rubber Field, champions of the Metfone C-League in 2012 and runners up in the past two seasons, have marked their intentions on returning to the top with the appointment of British-Australian coach John McGlynn

The Liverpool-born 46-year-old spent the majority of his playing career in Sydney, featuring for the Australian Defence Forces from 1986 to 1997 and also the Australian Amateurs squad in 1992 as a striker.

McGlynn is no stranger to the Kingdom, having first arrived back in 1993 as part of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) whilst serving as a soldier paratrooper for the Australian Army.

“I decided to come back to Cambodia as I had very fond memories of my time back then,” McGlynn told the Post.

“I remembered how welcoming and grateful the people of Cambodia were for our assistance at the time. This time came around as I heard football was back in action and running again. With my qualifications, experience and knowledge I felt I could have a positive impact within the country and assist in developing and educating the players and staff to improve the game.”

As chief assistant coach to Sam Schweingruber, McGlynn helped Phnom Penh Crown clinch their fifth league title in emphatic fashion earlier this year.

“I was initially brought in to improve the playing style along with the vision and philosophy of [Crown]. Also to educate the head coach, coaching staff and players alike as well as everything else you can think of that made us win the league last season – not to mention I had a couple of months with the club’s academy also assisting the Cambodian national U16s squad that entered the U16s ASEAN Youth Championships. On their return to the Kingdom, strangely enough they won every competition they entered, just about.”

McGlynn was, however, very excited to take up his new assignment with Kampong Cham-based outfit Boeung Ket.

“[Boeung Ket] have huge plans for the future to be the biggest and best club in the country, with developments concerning their new stadium and youth academy out in the province along with social change within the region,” said the coach.

I am very grateful to the clubs management and Mr Makara for giving me this opportunity. “I like the vision that they have and I’m looking forward to being part of the clubs history to assist and bring back more successes to the club.”

In replacing the outgoing Prak Vuthy, McGlynn noted that he would be giving all the players currently at Boeung Ket a fresh start and a new opportunity they deserve to impress.

“So far I have been very impressed with the response of all players and staff of the current group that I am working with,” he said.

“We still have the national team’s talented players to come back in, so I am looking forward to meeting and working with them soon. My initial targets will be to get the players enjoying themselves again, working on their fitness and confidence along the way.”

Although Boeung Ket have yet to confirm the signing of their new coach, McGlynn says he is expecting a year-long contract with the option to extend for a further year depending on his success with the team.

“As a western coach, I bring experience of coaching at state representative level and state international level. I will also bring organisation along with a disciplined, positive more specific modern style of coaching.”