Relegated Bluewings drag their feet on needed revamp for 2024

It has been over a month since the Suwon Samsung Bluewings faced relegation to the K League 2, yet the club has not made any visible changes that would significantly improve its chances of having a better run next season.

The Suwong Samsung Bluewings react after a 0-0 draw with Gangwon FC in the K League at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Dec. 2, 2023. [NEWS1]

It has been nearly two months since the Suwon Samsung Bluewings faced relegation to the K League 2, yet the club has not made any visible changes that would significantly improve its chances of having a better run next season.

The Bluewings had possibly their worst season in the K League 1 last year, struggling throughout the season and finishing at the bottom of the table to face relegation to the second division for the first time in the club’s history.

Those disappointing results tell a clear story, that the team has to reinforce their squad before the next season starts in the spring.

The Bluewings, however, have lost multiple players with Kwon Chang-hoon, Han Suk-jong and Kim Tae-hwan joining other teams after their contract expiration. Ko Seung-beom also transferred to last season’s K League 1 champions Ulsan HD.

The Bluewings did sign forwards Son Suk-yong and Kim Hyun and goalkeeper Cho Sung-hoon, in addition to three 18-year-old players Lee Gun-hee, Jung Sung-min and Lim Ji-hoon on Tuesday.

It is unclear how the three young players will fill the vacancy left by ex-Bluewings, however, as they have no experience in the pro league.

Bluewings’ new sporting director Park Kyung-hoon’s coaching staff selection also drew an unfavorable reaction from some fans.

Park did not bring in a new manager but rather made then-interim player-coach Yeom Ki-hun a permanent manager for the upcoming season, even though Yeom failed to save the team from relegation last year.

Some fans left comments under the announcement posted to Instagram on Jan. 9, saying that they could not accept the decision.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings sporting director Park Kyung-hoon, left, poses for a photo with head coach Yeom Ki-hun during a media day at Suwon Samsung Bluewings Club House in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi on Jan. 11. [YONHAP]

People also left angry comments under the announcement on Instagram about new coaching staff members on Jan. 12 saying that they all lack coaching experience. Some comments read: “Is promotion really our objective?” or “Inexperienced manager and assistant coaches. Do they think a pro league is a joke?”

Whether the Bluewings will be able to boost their squad with more convincing signings during the winter transfer window that runs through March 8 remains to be seen.

The Suwon side must improve a number of factors before they are back in action, including the lackluster attack that troubled the team throughout last season.

The Bluewings only scored 35 goals across 38 league fixtures, finishing the league as the second-least prolific team behind Gangwon FC with 30 goals.

The team’s defense also needs improvements, as they conceded 57 goals — the third-most after Suwon FC’s 76 and Daejeon Hana Citizen’s 58 — in the league.

The ideal result for the Bluewings next season is to win the league, as only the league champions earn direct promotion to the top tier.

A maximum of three K League 2 sides can earn promotion to the first division every year, with the K League 2 winners automatically replacing the 12th-place K League 1 side.

It gets a lot more competitive and complex after that. The second-place team in the K League 2 plays the 11th-place team in the K League 1, with the winner of that game playing the next season in the top tier.

The fourth- and fifth-place K League 2 teams then play each other, with the winner of that match facing the third-place finisher.

The winner of that game plays the 10th-place K League 1 team in yet another playoff, with its winner also securing its top-tier spot in the following season.

Promotion to the K League 1 proved extremely competitive last season, with only K League 2 winners Gimcheon Sangmu earning a place in the top tier. The two other K League 2 sides failed to do so after losing fierce promotion-relegation playoffs to the first-division teams.

The 2024 K League 2 will kick off in spring, with the Bluewings playing their first match of the season against Chungnam Asan FC on March 3. A total of 13 teams will compete in the regular season that runs through Nov. 9, with each team playing 36 matches.

The promotion-and-relegation playoffs against K League 1 sides are scheduled to take place on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]