Post by nutmeg on Oct 22, 2007 7:01:31 GMT 10
Sydney look for a new coach after another loss
By Tom Smithies
October 22, 2007 12:00am
SYDNEY FC chairman Andrew Kemeny has lost patience with coach Branko Culina and is now actively hunting for the club's fourth coach in less than three seasons.
Infuriated by Sydney's lack of points or form, with the team marooned in sixth position, Kemeny is urgently assessing potential candidates.
It's understood that Culina last week sought assurances on his future from Kemeny, which he received but qualified by the caveat that results will always determine a coach's future.
Saturday night's loss to Adelaide has hardened the resolve of Kemeny, who since his appointment in August has become an increasingly hands-on chairman, to the extent of overseeing the signing of Michael Bridges and the pursuit of John Aloisi.
Kemeny has the full support of majority shareholder Frank Lowy - the two ran Sydney City in the NSL - and is determined to act to arrest Sydney's drifting, with FC facing a make-or-break clash with leaders Central Coast next Sunday.
But how quickly Sydney move against Culina is complicated by the dearth of available candidates.
A major furore erupted when Sydney sought to lure Lawrie McKinna down the F3 from the Central Coast after season one, with Frank Lowy's role as both the FFA chairman and a Sydney shareholder cited as an unacceptable conflict of interest.
Any attempt to lure McKinna, Gary van Egmond from Newcastle or Frank Farina from Queensland would surely ignite exactly the same reaction.
Well-placed sources last week suggested that Kemeny had met Olyroos coach Graham Arnold to discuss the Sydney job, and while both men hotly denied the claim it is understood that Arnold is a prime target.
But Arnold is adamant he will continue his work at the FFA - particularly with the Olyroos on the cusp of a sensational qualification for next year's Olympics.
Their fate will be determined by a double header next month against Iraq and then North Korea.
John Kosmina remains the other heavyweight candidate for Kemeny, though the chairman is an admirer of AIS and Australian Under-20 coach Steve O'Connor.
Kosmina has become a de-facto part of the national team set-up, having assisted Arnold with the senior team at the Asian Cup and last month against Argentina, and with the Olyroos at their draws with Iraq and Lebanon in the Middle East.
But the former Adelaide coach has told friends that he is very comfortable with his current situation, free from the stresses and strains of daily club management.
His history with Lowy and Kemeny from the Sydney City days, though, cannot be overstated.
Culina last night declined to comment on the speculation over his future, saying only that as it was something he couldn't control it was something he would not worry about.
But the injuries that have wrecked the coach's season have been compounded by fresh blows to Terry McFlynn and Adam Casey - in the latter's case a broken tibia ruling him out for the rest of the season.
McFlynn will definitely miss Sunday's home game with Central Coast, and Mark Milligan is no certainty to return after missing Saturday's defeat with a calf injury picked up while on international duty.
Steve Corica and Ruben Zadkovich will, however, return from suspension, while on-loan striker Michael Bridges will debut if his visa arrives by the weekend.
By Tom Smithies
October 22, 2007 12:00am
SYDNEY FC chairman Andrew Kemeny has lost patience with coach Branko Culina and is now actively hunting for the club's fourth coach in less than three seasons.
Infuriated by Sydney's lack of points or form, with the team marooned in sixth position, Kemeny is urgently assessing potential candidates.
It's understood that Culina last week sought assurances on his future from Kemeny, which he received but qualified by the caveat that results will always determine a coach's future.
Saturday night's loss to Adelaide has hardened the resolve of Kemeny, who since his appointment in August has become an increasingly hands-on chairman, to the extent of overseeing the signing of Michael Bridges and the pursuit of John Aloisi.
Kemeny has the full support of majority shareholder Frank Lowy - the two ran Sydney City in the NSL - and is determined to act to arrest Sydney's drifting, with FC facing a make-or-break clash with leaders Central Coast next Sunday.
But how quickly Sydney move against Culina is complicated by the dearth of available candidates.
A major furore erupted when Sydney sought to lure Lawrie McKinna down the F3 from the Central Coast after season one, with Frank Lowy's role as both the FFA chairman and a Sydney shareholder cited as an unacceptable conflict of interest.
Any attempt to lure McKinna, Gary van Egmond from Newcastle or Frank Farina from Queensland would surely ignite exactly the same reaction.
Well-placed sources last week suggested that Kemeny had met Olyroos coach Graham Arnold to discuss the Sydney job, and while both men hotly denied the claim it is understood that Arnold is a prime target.
But Arnold is adamant he will continue his work at the FFA - particularly with the Olyroos on the cusp of a sensational qualification for next year's Olympics.
Their fate will be determined by a double header next month against Iraq and then North Korea.
John Kosmina remains the other heavyweight candidate for Kemeny, though the chairman is an admirer of AIS and Australian Under-20 coach Steve O'Connor.
Kosmina has become a de-facto part of the national team set-up, having assisted Arnold with the senior team at the Asian Cup and last month against Argentina, and with the Olyroos at their draws with Iraq and Lebanon in the Middle East.
But the former Adelaide coach has told friends that he is very comfortable with his current situation, free from the stresses and strains of daily club management.
His history with Lowy and Kemeny from the Sydney City days, though, cannot be overstated.
Culina last night declined to comment on the speculation over his future, saying only that as it was something he couldn't control it was something he would not worry about.
But the injuries that have wrecked the coach's season have been compounded by fresh blows to Terry McFlynn and Adam Casey - in the latter's case a broken tibia ruling him out for the rest of the season.
McFlynn will definitely miss Sunday's home game with Central Coast, and Mark Milligan is no certainty to return after missing Saturday's defeat with a calf injury picked up while on international duty.
Steve Corica and Ruben Zadkovich will, however, return from suspension, while on-loan striker Michael Bridges will debut if his visa arrives by the weekend.
That's a choice between a tooth ache or ingrown toenail. Both are painfull & damn annoying.
