Gwangju, plummeting to last place with '20 goals conceded, 6-game losing streak' after Lee Jeong-hyo's departure; does the 'promotion door' in K League 2 widen?

*This content was translated by AI.

K League 1's Gwangju FC has begun to fall behind. After remaining undefeated in the opening four matches (one win, three draws), the team has now lost six consecutive games and has already dropped to last place. Having played 10 matches, Gwangju is the only team with a single-digit point total (6 points).

The defense has completely collapsed. During the recent six-game losing streak, the team conceded a staggering 20 goals, with five of those losses coming in three separate matches. Gwangju suffered the nightmare of conceding five goals in matches against FC Seoul, Ulsan HD, and FC Anyang. As crushing defeats continue, no clear solution is in sight. Facing the disgraceful record of seven goals scored and 23 conceded in 10 matches—the fewest goals scored and most goals conceded in the league—the team has already slid to last place. The number of goals conceded has already surpassed half of last season's total (41 goals).

The concerns raised when head coach Lee Jeong-hyo stepped down to join Suwon Samsung have now become reality. Having led Gwangju since 2022 and sparking a promotion and a surprise run in K League 1, the coach departed the team at the end of last season. Instead, Gwangju handed the reins to head coach Lee Jeong-gyu, who had served as Lee Jeong-hyo's assistant coach. The leadership of this coach, taking his first step as a "commander" rather than a coach or assistant coach, has been put to the test, but thus far, he has not yet shown any clear brilliance.

In addition to the departure of some key players, the impact of being unable to strengthen the squad ahead of the new season due to a "transfer ban" was significant. Gwangju received a disciplinary sanction from FIFA prohibiting player signings until the first half of the year over unpaid solidarity contribution fees related to the Asani transfer. As a result, Gwangju was unable to strengthen its squad ahead of the new season, with the exception of three call-ups from its youth academy. As of the K League player registration deadline on March 26, the squad size was a mere 25 players. This is 10 fewer than the K League 1 average of 35.42 players, and there was only one foreign player.

Early in the season, Gwangju showed some of its potential by defeating Incheon United and drawing with Jeonbuk Hyundai, remaining undefeated in four matches. However, the team collapsed after a 0-5 crushing defeat to Seoul at the end of March. Even Bucheon, the 11th-placed promoted team, has recently fallen into a two-game losing streak, but it would be an overstatement to say their morale has been broken to the same extent as Gwangju's. In fact, Gwangju is the only team in K League 1 that has plummeted so steeply. If the team cannot quickly break out of this extreme slump, it is highly likely to fall behind early on. The consequences will naturally lead to "fear of relegation."

Coinciding with the restructuring of the number of teams in K League 1 and K League 2 for the next season, the fact that there will be no "direct relegation" this season is somewhat fortunate for Gwangju. However, if the team finishes in last place, it will be forced to participate in the promotion/relegation playoffs (PO). If Kim Cheon (SVP), whose franchise agreement ends this year and will disappear into history, finishes in last place, the promotion/relegation PO will not be held, and the only team that could be relegated from K League 1 would be Gimcheon. However, if a team other than Gimcheon finishes in last place, the promotion/relegation PO will be held. The opponent would be the team that loses in the K League 2 (second division) PO final, contested by teams ranked 3rd through 6th.

Conversely, from the perspective of K League 2 teams, Gwangju's situation has increased the likelihood that the "promotion door" will widen. If Gimcheon finishes in last place, three teams will be promoted without a promotion/relegation PO. However, if a team other than Gimcheon finishes in last place, the team that loses the K League 2 PO final will also be given a dramatic chance for promotion. This season, the K League 2 champion and runner-up will be promoted directly without a PO, and the winner of the K League 2 PO final will also be promoted without a separate promotion/relegation PO. Additionally, if a promotion/relegation PO is held, an extra promoted team may be added. The structure allows for up to four teams to be promoted. Through this, the next season will see K League 1 restructured with 14 teams and K League 2 with 15 teams.

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*This content was translated by AI.