Tampines Rover did the right thing by signing Pennant as Sleague needed a boost for its revival.
Malaysia Super League or ASEAN Super League are foreign competitions that we are only invited to participate and there is no guarantee that ASL will be a success. I remembered the ASEAN Club Championship only lasted twice (2003 & 2005) with Tampines Rover winning the 2005 edition.
Pennant is a quality footballer who played for Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League Final 2007 losing 1-2 to AC Milan. So if $40000 a month salary is very worth it as he just 33 yrs old. Local boy Duric retired at 44 yrs old with Tampines Rover
We have to make our own Sleague strong and with quality signing to attract 3000 paying fans to support clubs playing at regional stadium like Jurong West is consider an improvement. It will foolish to spend big money to participate in MSL or ASL instead use to sign former EPL footballers to Sleague. Billy Mehmet joined Tampines because Pennant was there.
I personally do not think playing in MSL or ASL will improve local footballers or attract large paying crowd to the National Stadium. If Sleague is a success then we do not need to join foreign leagues and other clubs in Asia will apply to join Sleague instead hence turning Singapore Football in a cash cow