After his unceremonious split with Selangor, K. Devan has found a harbour in Johor FC and has immediately begun laying plans to end the Super League club's long trophy drought.
Johor FC, the longest surviving club side in the top-flight, have come close to making the breakthrough several times before, reaching the semi-finals of the Malaysia Cup in 2008.
But after a less than stellar 2011 season under Azuan Zain, Johor FC brought Devan in and ejected a number of players to create space for 10 new local and two foreign signings.
Devan was given full rein to shape his side and only a trophy at the end of 2012 can justify the expense the management has gone to.
"Johor FC have been a mainstay in the Super League (since earning promotion in 2011) and they are a good club with good vision. They have never won anything but they have been willing to spend this season.
"Normally, they rely on their own players but this season we have reorganised the side with a budget and target in mind. So yes, we want to win a title and it is going to be a challenging experience for me," said Devan during Johor FC's trip to the Klang Valley last weekend when they beat Sime Darby 6-4 and Kuala Lumpur 1-0 in friendly matches.
Johor FC, the second-tier Premier League champions in 1997 and 2001, have drafted in 10 local players including Felda United's Kaironnisam Sahabuddin Hussain, Syazwan Zainon, Zamri Chin and Azi Shahril Azmi, Sabah's Farid Ideris, goalkeeper Zamir Selamat from Young Tigers A, Shafizan Hashim from Kedah and T-Team's Haris Safwan Kamal.
Devan confirmed that two Brazilians -- Tito Fernando Da Silva Pinto and Tiago -- who have been on trial with them will likely be Johor FC's foreign signings for the new season.
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