Other Football

Peter Reid is unconcerned by the pressure he will come under as the newly appointed coach of Thailand.

After three years away from coaching, the Englishman has taken up the reins of the South East Asian side, replacing Chanvit Phalajivin who quit three months ago after Thailand were eliminated from the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

The 52-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the Football Association of Thailand and has been set an ambitious task of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

"The goal for Thailand with the FAT is to help Thailand qualify for the World Cup which is a long time," said Reid on Friday at his first press conference in Thailand since taking up the position.

"It is time to work up and get a side. It is not easy and I must improve the Thailand team and that includes finding new players for the national side.

"You can't predict what will happen and all I can promise is that I will try to make an improvement.

"It is difficult to come out now and forecast and decide where the team will be."

Reid feels his experience of pressure in the English game will stand him in good stead.

"When you manage football at the highest level like in the Premier League with Manchester City, Sunderland and Leeds, you've going to feel pressure," he continued.

"It is pressure that I'm quite happy to deal with. It stimulates you and it is very interesting.

"Pressure to win games, that is what football coaching is all about. Players just have to go out there and play their best and can be relaxed and play with confidence."

Reid admitted he had little knowledge of the Thai team prior to being appointed but is looking forward to the challenge.

"It is great to be in Thailand and to work with the Thai FA although I don't think that it will be easy work for me," he said.

"I have seen some football matches on DVD in the World Cup qualifying. The Thai team was sometimes unlucky in their matches and from now on it is up to me to improve them, especially to try to get them to a higher fitness level.

"I will be watching some Thailand League matches in the next few weeks. I have been here a whole week and I do know the basic team.

"It will be a challenge, although I think technically the Thai players are very good."