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Sydney FC's team coach, Branko Culina faces the media. AAP Image/Ardiles Rante
If Mark Schwarzer was scared of coming home because of a possible tirade of John Aloisi-like abuse, then I wonder what Socceroos based in Europe make of the current situation involving Jason Culina?
The Newcastle Jets and Culina look headed for something ominously named the “national dispute resolution chamber” according to a media release from Football Federation Australia last night. The outcome is final and binding it went on to say.
But according to Brendan Schwab, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers Association, any finding against Culina would be hard to understand.
In an interview with Sportsline on Sky News Australia yesterday Schwab made the point that the Jets have a duty of care to rehabilitate a player who is on their books.
He also went on to say that the medical staff at the club must take some responsibility given their consent would or should have been a key part of the signing process. The club also didn’t raise any concerns when Schwab met officials at the Jets two weeks ago.
But what does it do for players’ confidence in the league?
You’d like to think that this is an isolated and incredibly strange situation because the league is gaining credibility as it ages.
Last season the level of play was the highest its ever been and a new marketing campaign “we are football” is giving the league a voice and identity that has been lacking.
Yes, i know more needs to be done than an emotive ad campaign, but you get the sense that the corner is being turned. It’s a great start and those in power are aware that a sustained push of similar intensity is needed over time now.
In a way it’s easy to understand the frustration of Jets owner Nathan Tinkler though. In a time of unprecedented optimism following the homecoming of Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton his marquee man is in the stands. No club can really afford to miss the boom that’s just days away.
The Newcastle faithful will no doubt pack the stands when Kewell and Emerton come to town, but the trick is giving the fans something to look forward to while those two are busy bringing supporters through the gate in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
That’s not to say the way Tinkler has gone about things is right, far from it, but you can see where his frustration stems from.
Schwab also told Sportsline that Culina was confident he’d be able to complete the final two years of his contract.
You tend to believe it as well.
The former PSV man has a reputation as one of the nice guys of Australian sport. He doesn’t strike me as someone who’d sit and collect a big pay packet in such an important position. The marquee system is vital to the A-League.
Many people have rubbished the value of the position and instead urged a greater focus on connection with the grassroots.
That connection is indeed vital and in no-way should be under-estimated, but it’s great to see investment in top-line talent while CEO’s around the league also get to work on converting the many football players in Australia into regular attendees of A-League games.
There’s no rule that both the top and bottom of the game can’t receive attention at the same time.
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