At the press conference to announce that Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson had left by ‘mutual consent’ owner Tony Sage was not surprisingly asked about his future commitment to the club.
Not surprisingly Sage reiterated that he was still 100% committed to the club, but more interesting at this point in time was his body language. Sage had looked directly at all of the media present at the press conference up until this question, and then throughout his response his eyes dropped and he appeared to be talking to the desk behind which he was sitting.
With plenty of concerns in relation to his business away from the football club it would be no surprise if Mr Sage did walk away from the club at the end of the current season, and the appointment of Alistair Edwards as interim coach until the end of the season will have done little to allay those beliefs.
Mr Sage advised that the FFA had given Edwards two month’s leave from his position of FFA Assistant Technical Director working alongside Dutchman Han Berger, and his role as the Head Coach of the U/17 National Team.
This appointment in itself is interesting as it is believed that Edwards position at the FFA will be kept open to him during his time as interim coach. Something that is unheard of in world football circles and some are indeed questioning if under FIFA rules the body running the league can indeed parachute one of their staff into a privately owned club without them resigning their position. However with that same governing body having a team of their own in that league it would appear in Australia anything is possible.
Sadly as no doubt many will welcome Edwards appointment alongside former Glory legend Gareth Naven his appointment would tend to indicate that the FFA will be taking over the license again at the end of this season, and it will take a great deal to convince people otherwise. That would not be good news for loyal Glory fans as under their stewardship the rot started to set in at the club, and since that time it has always been chasing the rest of the clubs. One can only hope that new owners can be found quickly and they can start laying the foundations for next season sooner rather than later.
Reckon you are spot on and the sooner Sage goes the better. The man has stuffed up Perth Glory beyond belief.
Is there any truth in the rumour that following the success of Western Sydney the FFA are looking to give the licence to Football West to run the team and that Mich D’avray will return as coach, hence the PR stunt with him on their Football 360?
Why else would they interview an ex coach who no longer lives here? Who publically says he wants to return.
Not a fan of the idea but they can’t do worse than Sage and that is saying something.