Former Kelantan and Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) coach Bojan Hodak is reportedly in the running to take over the Malaysia national team after complications with the appointment of Argentina's Mario Gomez.
Gomez was the first choice of the new Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president. But the 60-year-old hasn't been able to agree salary terms with the incoming FAM boss, the Crown Prince of Johor (TMJ), who was also his former owner at JDT.
On Tuesday, TMJ revealed that FAM are RM40 million in debt so their offer to Gomez was less than originally planned.
"The terms were better when I was first offered the job 50 days ago. Three days ago, I was offered a lower salary for a year's work. The salary is too small," Gomez told The New Straits Times.
Ironically, it was Gomez who took over from Hodak as JDT coach in when TMJ was unhappy with the way that the Southern Tigers had started the 2015 season.
Croatian-born Hodak is currently without a team, having left his consultant role with Penang at the end of last season. Earlier this year, he reportedly turned down an offer to take over at Felda United.
TMJ revealed last month that he is also an admirer of Australia U23 coach Josep Gombau, the Spaniard who transformed Adelaide United in the A-League.
Kedah boss Tan Cheng Hoe remains in the picture to work in the national setup again, having declared his interest in linking up with TMJ earlier this week. But he was seen as the logical assistant to Gomez, not the head coach.
Malaysia's next scheduled international action will be a 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against North Korea on June 8, to be played at a neutral venue.