S.League: Clubs set for bigger carrot

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Clubs in the Great Eastern-Yeo's S-League are set for a cash boost in the form of subsidies to lure marquee names to Singapore next year.

If S-League Chief Executive Lim Chin and his team have their way, more money could also be thrown into the prize pot for the club that wins the league.

If approved, the monetary reward for the 2013 S-League champions will jump, from the current S$150,000 to S$250,000. The cheque for the winners of the RHB Singapore Cup will also grow from S$80,000 to S$100,000.

It is not clear if the teams that finish behind the winners will also see a corresponding increase in winnings. Currently, the runners-up in the S-League take home S$80,000 while third place fetches a S$40,000 reward.

The proposed increase will see the S-League start to catch up with the other regional leagues that have stronger financial clout.

The Thai Premier League reportedly paying 10 million Baht (S$400,000) to its champions, while Vietnam's V-League champions take home US$150,000 (S$184,000).

The increased prize money is one of several changes mooted by Lim and his team to inject life into an S-League that has seen crowd figures fall to an all-time low of 932 at the halfway mark of the 2012 season.

Next year will have a new league format, new-look mandatory fitness test, as well as an influx of star quality with marquee players being lured to the Lion City.