KUALA LUMPUR: Former Sabah star Scott Ollerenshaw is returning to Australia after 31 years in the state to care for his ageing parents, following his resignation as the club’s technical and sporting director.
The 57-year-old vacated his position on Dec 14, citing family issues.
Ollerenshaw said his decision was due to his parents’ declining health over the last four months.
“Over the last four months, my parents, who are reaching an advanced age, faced several challenging health issues in Australia. Therefore, after living in Sabah for 31 years, the time has arrived for me to be with them,” he said in a social media post.
Ollerenshaw said stepping down was a difficult and emotional decision, but the right one to make.
He served as Sabah’s technical and sporting director for four years.
He first arrived in Kota Kinabalu in 1994 and played for Sabah FA for four seasons, a period in which the team won the FA Cup in 1995 and the Premier League title in 1996.
He also famously scored against Manchester United in a 1996 friendly while playing as a guest for Selangor.
Ollerenshaw returned to Sabah in 2021 after being appointed by Sabah chief executive officer Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan to revive the team following their return to the top flight.
Under his leadership, Sabah finished third in the Super League for three consecutive seasons, reached the AFC Cup semi-finals, and qualified for the this year’s FA Cup final.
Ollerenshaw paid tribute to the late Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar, who was the Sabah FA president in 2021, crediting him for the vision to rebuild the club.
He also gave special mention to former and current coaches, including Ong Kim Swee, JP De Marigny, Rasto Bozik, and Martin Stano, as well as Irwan Jamil and Alto Linus.
Ollerenshaw praised the players who remained with Sabah despite salary reductions this season, calling their loyalty a key factor in the club’s resurgence.
He also thanked Sabah supporters, describing them as the club’s lifeblood, and hinted that his departure may not be permanent.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
