- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Even winning the A-League championship could not avoid a damning post-season assessment for sacked Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey.
Roar managing director Sean Dobson revealed on Monday that while months of warnings had preceded Mulvey’s sensational axing, he could not explain the club’s poor handling of the coach’s departure.
Dobson admitted he expected a backlash from fans in the fallout over the leaking of Mulvey’s sacking to the media hours before the reigning coach of the year was officially told on Sunday.
Dobson cut a frustrated figure in Brisbane on Monday as he officially unveiled ex-Dutch international Frans Thijssen as interim coach for the rest of the season.
“To be honest there’s nowhere to hide on this,” he said.
“We’ll wear it and the criticism is fair and public opinion, particularly the opinion of our fans, is very fair and valid.”
Dobson admitted he was “caught on the hop” when the news leaked hours before he could speak face to face with Mulvey on Sunday.
“Absolutely. And that’s a break down in process and that’s something that ultimately sits with me,” he said.
“Obviously we had a leak… and we are investigating that breach.
“It is not the way that we conduct ourselves.
“It is imperative that we show the respect to … the man that’s gone and that … (when) we go forward we do so with our head held high.”
Dobson will get a good indication of how their fans feel at Saturday night’s home clash with ladder leaders Perth.
But Dobson said Mulvey had been warned that he had strayed too far from the Roar’s ideal training regimen, gameplan and “philosophy” on numerous occasions – even in the aftermath of Brisbane’s third championship in four seasons.
Enough was enough for the Roar board after Brisbane sunk to their fifth loss in their first six matches last weekend.
“At the end of last season I sat down with Mike over a pint and I went through exactly where I thought we were as a football club,” Dobson said.
“We were premiers but we also weren’t happy with the way we were training – because it is not about the results.
“An editing or change in our philosophy or identity is not acceptable.
“We believe in what we stand for as a football team and club.
“Yes our results were excellent but for us that doesn’t mean we stop, it doesn’t mean we accept a change in what we represent.”
Dobson denied that player feedback or a breakdown with influential football director Ken Stead sealed Mulvey’s demise.
Thijssen held his first training session on Monday morning moments after being introduced to the group.
Thijssen will be assisted by Stead with a future role set in the club’s youth development department.
Dobson said there was no deadline for a full-time head coach announcement but confirmed Thijssen would not be considered.
“It’s really important we get the right person … so we will take our time,” he said.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.