Former Aloha Stadium interim manager Ken Lum said he wasn't ready to resign this week, but was asked to leave by a high-ranking member of Gov. Linda Lingle's administration.

Lum, 81, announced his plans to resign Monday after he was contacted by Bob Awana, the governor's Chief of Staff.

"I was asked to step down," Lum said yesterday. "I guess they're going to plan on bringing in the new staff — a new manager and a new deputy."

Lum had guided operations at the 50,000-seat facility after taking over from longtime manager Eddie Hayashi, who retired on Oct. 1, 2005.

The Aloha Stadium manager is responsible for overseeing a wide array of events at the largest and most versatile multi-purpose facility in the state, including the NFL Pro Bowl, baseball games, soccer matches, concerts, car shows, fairs and the swap meet.

Russell Pang, the governor's chief of media relations, confirmed that Awana asked Lum to leave.

"Bob Awana did ask him to resign," Pang said. "That's all the light I have to shed, though."

Lum said he didn't want to leave, and that his staff "was in complete shock" when he resigned.

"I thought it was a little premature," Lum said. "But it wasn't a big thing with me.

"I was just hoping I would be there when the new manager took over," he said.

Lum said he hasn't been contacted by anyone from Lingle's administration since his departure.

"I have no plans whatsoever," Lum said. "Just another retiree."

Lum said he endorsed interim deputy manager Scott Chan for the stadium manager position.

"He's a very capable man," Lum said of Chan. "He's the one I recommended from the beginning of the new search."

Chan will likely replace Lum temporarily until a permanent manager is selected, according to Aloha Stadium Authority chairman Kevin Chong Kee.

Chan was unavailable for immediate comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Aloha Stadium Authority has conducted two rounds of searches spanning nearly two years for a new stadium manager. The recent search drew about 14 to 15 applicants, mostly promoters.

The new stadium manager will have his salary capped at $81,463. A bill that would have given the Aloha Stadium Authority control of setting the new salary for the manager failed earlier.

The manager's position will be addressed at this month's Aloha Stadium Authority meeting on April 26.