Song Lam Nghe An is worried about losing its players.

The pillar stands at the crossroads.

In recent seasons, Ngo Van Luong has emerged as one of the most consistent and significant contributors to Song Lam Nghe An's squad. In the 2025/2026 season, after 16 rounds of matches, the midfielder born in 2001 has made 15 appearances, becoming a near-default starter in coach Van Sy Son's lineup.

Playing as a left-sided midfielder with a clear attacking tendency, Ngo Van Luong not only connects the team's play but also creates breakthroughs in attacking moves. After many years of training and playing in the Nghe An football environment, this player has accumulated experience, competitive spirit, and a deep understanding of the team's philosophy.

At 25 years old, Ngo Van Luong is entering the prime of his career. However, this milestone also places him at a crucial crossroads. According to the regulations of the Vietnam Football Federation, after fulfilling his obligations to his training club until the age of 25, a player has the right to decide his own future. This means that after the 2025/2026 season concludes, Ngo Van Luong's contract with Song Lam Nghe An will officially expire.

This is a matter of concern for many fans. After all, Ngo Van Luong is considered a key player, both professionally and mentally, for the Nghe An team.

Speaking on this matter, midfielder Van Luong frankly expressed his deep affection for his hometown team, the place that nurtured him and helped him become a professional player. However, he also couldn't hide his concerns about the future.

"A footballer's career is short. Without preparation and proactively seeking opportunities, it's easy to find yourself in a passive position when the new season approaches. At that point, you might even find yourself without a team to play for in the V.League," Ngo Van Luong shared.

With no concrete offer yet from the club, the midfielder is forced to consider offers from other teams. This is a practical choice, although not an easy one emotionally.

Not only Ngo Van Luong, Song Lam Nghe An also faces the risk of losing many other important players whose contracts will expire after this season. These include names such as Ho Khac Luong, Vuong Van Huy, Tran Manh Quynh, Nguyen Xuan Binh, Dang Quang Tu…

These are all experienced players who play important roles in the team, considered the "backbone" both professionally and mentally.

If they cannot retain this group of players, Song Lam Nghe An will face the risk of a squad crisis. A team that already relies heavily on homegrown players will face even greater difficulties without experienced figures to lead the younger generation.

GTemporary solution of Song Lam Nghe An

The core reason why Song Lam Nghe An has not yet been able to take concrete steps to retain its players lies in the "transitional" period, as the current main sponsor has requested to withdraw, while a replacement has yet to be identified. According to the team's leadership, Tan Long Group has officially sent a letter to Nghe An province requesting to cease sponsorship after the 2025/2026 season, which ends on June 30, 2026.

This withdrawal has put Song Lam Nghe An in a passive position. Without a replacement sponsor, the club lacks the legal basis and financial resources to negotiate and sign new contracts with its players.

Regarding this matter, the club's leadership stated that they have worked with the coaching staff to review and evaluate each case individually. Among the players whose contracts are about to expire, the coaching staff has proposed retaining only those who are truly essential professionally.

Based on that, the club proactively met with the players to understand their aspirations and to record their proposals regarding salaries, bonuses, and other benefits. However, negotiations have not yet resulted in concrete figures.

“This is a very sensitive period. If we offer high salaries and the new sponsor doesn't accept them later, it will be very awkward. Conversely, if we offer low salaries, the players might not agree or lose their opportunities. Therefore, everything must be done very cautiously,” said Mr. Ho Le Duc, General Director of Song Lam Nghe An Club.

In that context, the immediate solution that Song Lam Nghe An is applying is mainly to maintain stability in terms of morale. Mr. Duc added: "The management has directly spoken with the players, affirming that, even with a change in sponsor, the team will still survive."

At the same time, the club also emphasized the emotional aspect, encouraging players to prioritize staying because it is where they grew up, are close to their families, and have a familiar environment. Players' suggestions are also taken into account as a basis for working with new sponsors in the future.

However, the club's leadership also admitted that this is only a temporary solution. Without clear financial resources, no commitments can be guaranteed.

In reality, some players have received attractive offers from other teams. In an increasingly competitive transfer market, retaining players based solely on sentiment is no longer enough.

For many years, Song Lam Nghe An has been known as one of the few teams in the V.League that remains loyal to its philosophy of using players trained in-house. This has created a unique identity, helping the team from Nghe An province always receive special affection from fans.

If they fail to retain their key players, Song Lam Nghe An will be forced to use many young players aged 18-20. Although they have potential, their lack of experience could put the team at risk in the fierce competition of the V.League.

The risk of a "brain drain" is therefore very real. Right now, Song Lam Nghe An needs to find a solution quickly, if they don't want to risk a season full of instability ahead.