Glory chiefs to hold crisis meeting with players

Perth Glory co-owner Tony Sage and chief executive Scott Gooch will hold a crisis meeting with the player group tomorrow to find out who, if anybody, wants to walk away from the struggling A-League club.

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In the wake of last week’s disastrous 4-0 capitulation to Melbourne, which left the Glory six points adrift of the top four, coach David Mitchell held a heart-to-heart meeting with his underperforming charges to allow everyone to air their grievances.

At that meeting Mitchell gave his players an ultimatum — either stay and fight with 100 per cent commitment or walk away now.

The players were given a few days to mull over the offer and will make their decision known when they meet with Sage and Gooch tomorrow.

Mitchell, who admitted some players at the club were mentally fragile, met with Sage and Gooch this morning to discuss the team’s dire predicament.

The coach has made it clear that he is unimpressed with the attitude of several high-profile players at the club.

“I’ve spoken to a few players and I’ve said to them that if they don’t want to be here then tell me for the sake of the club, themselves and myself, and then they can move on,” Mitchell said.

“I said to them if players don’t want to be here please let it be known and then we can move forward and let them go.

“November’s the time where people can move to other clubs.

“It’s a situation where if a player doesn’t want to be here for whatever reason, then leave.

“Are they thinking of other things? Are they thinking about going to Europe or going elsewhere? So the question had to be asked and that’s why I’ve given them a couple of days to think about it.”
Mitchell’s contract expires at the end of the season but the coach said he wanted an extension on his current deal so he could implement measures for future success.

“I think if I had another year or two I could settle things down a little bit and then start making some decisions for the club, which I have done now, for the benefit of the club moving forward for next season,” Mitchell said.

The Glory, who were kings of the now-defunct National Soccer League, have been the whipping boys of the national competition since the A-League’s inception.

They currently sit last on the table and attracted a club-low 4433 fans to their last home game.

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