What will Lodeweges sacking mean for Matt Lam’s future at JEF United?

FC Edmonton fans could be dealing with mixed emotions; they want to see midfielder and hometown hero Matt Lam succeed on the international stage, but they’d also love to see him back in Edmonton for the 2012 NASL season.

Lam didn’t dress this weekend as JEF United played its second game after coaches Dwight Lodeweges and Hans Schrijver were sacked by the team. The Japanese second-division side lost 1-0 to Tosu, as it continued its slide down the standings.

Lodeweges and Schrijver left FC Edmonton before its inaugural NASL season to take the jobs in Japan — and it was clear they were under a directive to get JEF United back to the J-League’s top flight. When the team slumped, they were sacked.

What happens to the pair is a bit of a mystery — but FC Edmonton does have one coaching slot open after assistant Edwin Petersen decided to return to the Netherlands. Harry Sinkgraven — hand-picked by Lodeweges to take over from him — is stable as the club’s head coach.

But JEF United has to inform FC Edmonton by Dec. 31 if it wants to exercise the option to buy Lam — who Lodeweges brought out to Japan on loan with the option to buy. Now that Lodeweges is gone and Lam didn’t dress, the betting money has to go on Lam coming back to Alberta.

Lam was FCE’s most impressive player when the club played a 2010 schedule of friendlies under Lodeweges. And, he was handpicked by the coach to come to Japan with him. But, after a strong start to the season, Lam was moved to the bench — and, with a new boss in place, he didn’t appear on the team sheet.

Last week, FCE general manager Tom Leip confirmed (CLICK HERE) that the club has not been contacted by JEF United about whether or not it will exercise its right to buy Lam.