The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) will pay USD15,000 a month for the new Japanese coach of the national squad, much lower than what previous foreign coaches have received in Vietnam.

General secretary of the VFF, Le Hoai Anh, said that because there are still some contract disagreements, the identity of the new coach would not be divulged until May 15.

Previously, the VFF vice chairman, Tran Quoc Tuan, said that the new Japanese coach has 11 years experience and is among three candidates introduced by the Japanese Football Association. There is rumour circulating that Takeshi Okada may be the candidate being wooed by the VFF because he has 11 years of experience. Tuan denied the rumour. However, the VFF vice head Nguyen Xuan Gu said that Takeshi Okada is a potential candidate.

The VFF chairman Le Hung Dung said the monthly salary for the new coach would be USD15,000, of which USD10,000 would be provided by the General Department of Sports and Physical Training.

 VFF's chairman, Le Hung Dung, answering questions from the press

This new salary is much lower than those of previous coaches. Falko Goetz and Henrique Calisto received USD25,000 and USD22,000 respectively. Many people have guessed that VFF may receive funds from the Japan Football Association and that is the reason they are determined to hire a Japanese coach instead of searching elsewhere.

Dung said there is much to learn from Japan Football Association which could improve domestic football. He went on to say that most VFF members agreed that Japanese coaches are highly compatible with Vietnamese football.

The VFF is scheduled to sign a contract with the new coach in the end of May. In June, the new coach will lead the national team to play friendly matches before they participate in ASEAN Football Championship - AFF Cup 2014.