English-born Australian coach Eric Williams has been "rested" by struggling Melaka United ahead of Wednesday's Malaysia Super League (MSL) match against Felda United.
Melaka are 10th on the MSL table, just one point above the relegation zone. But they are showing signs of improvement after avoiding defeat in their last three league matches.
Former Yangon United coach Williams, 61, joined Melaka at the start of the season after they had been promoted to the MSL as 2016 Premier League champions.
"Williams informed me today that he is ill and we subsequently decided to rest him until further notice," Melaka United Soccer Association deputy president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi told The New Straits Times.
His assistant coach G. Selvamohan will step in as caretaker boss for the game against sixth-placed Felda.
But Datuk Yusoff hinted that Williams' departure could be permanent.
"We may make a change in our coaching staff as several players cannot agree with Williams' coaching style," he said.
"We will not make a hasty decision. I will discuss matters with Williams after the match against Felda and we will take it from there on whether we should look for a new coach."
Melaka had been looking to change their import players after some mediocre performances in the first half of the season, winning just two of 12 MSL matches.
Aryn Williams, Eric's son, was in Malaysia last week, apparently for a trial. Aryn, 23, is a centre-back who played 22 times for Perth Glory in the A-League and was a junior player at Burnley in England.
Williams' older son, Rhys, is an Australia international who played for Middlesbrough in the Premier League and English second tier.
Melaka United were thrashed 7-0 by Johor Darul Ta'zim at Larkin Stadium on April 9, but since then Williams has tightened up the squad defensively.
In another setback to the side, veteran attacker Amri Yahyah left Melaka last week to rejoin his original senior team, Selangor.