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Kenny Lowe wants more power at Glory

17th April, 2015
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Perth A-League coach Kenny Lowe says the club needs an urgent overhaul of their protocols if they are to avoid a repeat of the salary cap fiasco.

And Lowe says he’ll understand if any of his players choose to walk out on the club in the wake of the drama.

The Glory will miss this season’s finals and be forced to pay $269,000 in fines after finally accepting their guilt over salary cap cheating.

Chief executive Jason Brewer apologised for his role in the affair and resigned on Thursday, with the club claiming no one else was involved.

Lowe could only watch on helplessly as more and more dodgy deals were revealed over the previous few months.

Now, he wants more control to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

The Glory have failed dismally in finding the right off-field formula for success in recent years.

Former Socceroo Alistair Edwards was given free rein of the club’s football department during his time as coach, but the move backfired disastrously.

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Edwards, who signed his two sons and was perceived to favour them, ended up getting turfed out in a player-led revolt.

To avoid a repeat of that, Lowe was given little power when he was appointed as the club’s full-time coach a year ago.

That, too, ended badly, with the club’s hierarchy hashing out a series of dubious player deals unbeknowns to Lowe.

“Maybe a hybrid version of both regimes (would be the right way to go),” Lowe said on Friday.

“There might be some things put in place that allows us to have more control at this end over things that happen.”

Given the serious nature of Perth’s salary cap breaches, it’s understood players may have the right to break their contracts early and leave the club at the end of the season.

Lowe said he had been given no indication a mass exodus was on the cards.

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But if any players want to leave, Lowe won’t stand in their way.

“I’ve just said to the guys that if you’re not happy, you’ve got to look after yourself,” Lowe said.

“It’s a funny game. The only person who looks after you in this game is you.

“It’s ruthless, it’s horrible. But also it gives you something else that’s magnificent and joyful.

“Sometimes it’s a great place to be, and sometimes it’s the worst place in the world to be. That’s football.

“The players have been superb. They listened, they’ve worked hard. They might be feeling hurt inside. But hey, we can all be a chameleon.”

Lowe revealed he had exchanged some text messages with Brewer since Thursday.

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“Let’s not vilify him,” Lowe said.

“Maybe he’s made a couple of choices that he’s not happy with and have impacted on everybody. But ultimately, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. He’s a genuine guy.

“You’ve got to remember Jason is a human being as well. We’ve got to think about him and his family.”

The Glory will be back in action on Sunday when they host Melbourne City at nib Stadium.

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