There has been a notable shift in recent times that has seen a growing number tap onto "Twitter" to interact with one another in the Singapore football fraternity.

Just barely a month into the new season and already several football clubs and fans have jumped onto the bandwagon to utilize this phenomenal tool to network among themselves.

One such fan has embraced the usefulness of Twitter is Neo Chee Seong, better known by his tweet ID - "@kerjialat ". The avid local football supporter who would provide "live" tweet update on matches he attended using the hashtag "#sleague" to generate the necessary awareness.

"Twitter plays a very significantly part on my interests in the S.League and issues involving the National Team set-up," said Neo. "It also gathers a niche group of fans who catch up with one another to attend games in groups, which is a very positive thing for the league."

Another group, a collection of Etoile FC's supporters known as the "Etoile Ultras" have also pooled themselves together to set up a web portal that comprises a blog site, supported by Twitter. According to Pierre Foucaud, one of the co-founders of the group behind this fans' initiated portal, the current followers on its Twitter account is still small in numbers, given its infancy.

"We are a growing group of supporters and so will our numbers on our blog and Twitter sites," explained Foucaud, who explained that this independent supporters' group consistently interacts with Etoile management throughout its operation.

Albirex Niigata (Singapore) and Geylang United are two more S.League teams that have already caught the "tweet bug" lately.

With a huge following amongst the Japanese population in Singapore, it is no surprise to see Jurong East-based Albirex being among the first clubs to activate their tweets time-line in July 2009. Boasted with a current following of over a thousand, the White Swans are projecting to triple their followers to 3,000 by the end of the season, according to club manager Koh Mui Tee.

"Twitter, because of its short messaging nature, allows us to reach our followers quickly without having to type in too many details," explained Koh. "We have also linked it to our Facebook and other applications, although the primary purpose of our Twitter account is to update our fans on the scores of all matches and to disseminate other relevant information from the club."

And that too was precisely the similar motive behind the setting up of Geylang United's own account in the words of the Eagles' marketing executive Jasmine Chow.

"Geylang United decided to set up a Twitter account as its user numbers are rising and we wanted to tap on that opportunity to get in connect with fellow football fanatics as well as providing them the first hand updates from the club at all times," said Chow, who together with a colleague maintains the club's Twitter account. "Although our account only started less than one week old, we have received positive response in terms of numbers for a newly set up Twitter and we foresee that the number will increase in time to come."

Other club too, like Balestier Khalsa, have laid out plans their pipeline to work a Twitter presence into the club's site.

"We are in the midst of revamping our club website and it will involve setting up a club's Twitter account." explained Cheng Tim Nee, general manager of Toa Payoh-based club.

Nonetheless, there is a drawback for clubs with the use of such new media, as it allows any individual to pass off as a real McCoy in the case of SAFFC, when one unknown user registered the username "@SAFFCWarriors"

"This is not an official account managed by us, so officially, SAFFC does not maintain a Twitter account." stated Jorine Sim, marketing & corporate affairs manager of SAFFC, in an email reply pertaining the credibility of this unsanctioned Twitter account.

While I managed to narrow down the search to this elusive person behind the @SAFFCWarriors account, my search finally proved futile, as person behind the curtain declined to be interviewed on this issue.

Which eventually led me to question if players and officials in the clubs should be subjected to certain guidelines regarding this micro-blogging tool?

Balestier's answer, which was similarly echoed by Geylang United and Albirex, was that there was no such policy over players using their account, as long as they keep to common-sense. 

"It is okay for them to have their own Twitter account," answered Cheng. "However, we will not allow them to reveal any confidential club information."