Dyron Daal in action during the Newcastle Jets vs North Queensland Fury. AAP Image/Tim Clayton
Its financial problems well known and coach Ian Ferguson leaving for Perth Glory, North Queensland Fury at least has the support of the Townsville community and Football Federation Australia. But where has been the support for the Fury’s players?
The North Queensland scenario is more akin to the National Soccer League’s final days, and precisely the sort of one FFA set out to avoid when it laid out its stringent financial guidelines for teams entering the A-League.
The club’s short-term status appears to have been saved by the deep pockets of local businesses, whose money convinced FFA the Fury was a cause worth saving.
North Queensland reportedly ran at a loss of $2.5 million in its debut season, proving a burden too great for brave owner Don Matheson to bear.
Few could blame him.
News broke of FFA’s pledge to back the embattled club late on March 31. Fury fans could have been forgiven they were the victim of a poor-tasted April Fools Day joke when waking up to the official word the following day.
But their club appears set to battle on – even if the subsequent news coming out of the Fury has not stayed positive.
With all playing and support staff contracts deemed invalid after the change of ownership, inaugural coach Ferguson quit the club to join Perth on Tuesday as Dave Mitchell’s assistant.
A step down in responsibility, sure. But there’s no substitution for peace of mind in an Australian football landscape shallow of opportunities.
Having preceded their coach through the exit door are players Jeremy Brockie and Rostyn Griffiths.
More gutting for Fury fans are the lukewarm noises from FFA about the chances of seeing marquee man Robbie Fowler don a club shirt once again.
FFA chief executive Ben Buckley was non-committal at best when quizzed on the likelihood of Fowler being re-signed this week. He’d already watered down the Liverpool legend’s offer to become player-manager at the fledgling club.
So, incidentally, did Frank Farina – himself a former player-coach and one of the main names bandied about as Ferguson’s replacement.
“He would do a wonderful job as a coach but I’ve done it myself, and the pressure of playing while coaching, takes its toll,” Farina said yesterday.
One issue Buckley has met with a definite answer is his support for the players.
“It is an immediate priority for us to work through the contractual arrangements with the players and we will be doing that in consultation with them individually and with the player’s association,” he said on April 1.
But almost a week later, the Fury’s footsoldiers are clearly yet to hear too much regarding their playing future and livelihoods.
Bright young defender Michael Marrone was announced as a Fury recruit back in December.
Now his move is less assured, and he revealed yesterday to the Adelaide Advertiser he’d not been contacted despite indications he would be by last Friday.
Regardless of whether the blame lies at the feet of FFA or the Professional Footballers’ Association, players like Marrone deserve to know where their futures lie.
That, perhaps, is the shoddiest April Fools Day joke of them all.
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