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.
Wug
Guest
Let's hope the community is strong and savvy enough to get them through this rough time. It would be a shame for all concerned if things worsened
clayton
Guest
Void contracts - they are free to go.
Graham Dorrans
Guest
Interesting article Paddy. You have to wonder how the farce with all playing contracts being deemed invalid is going to affect the club in it's ability to sign new players and to resign the players who thought they had the security of a contract of employment in place. For mine, I think that it would have to put a pretty large dent in the image and allure of the club in the eyes of any player considering signing with the Fury. I mean who really wants to jump on board a clearly leaking boat? This sadly could lead to a vicious circle with the club failing to attract the required talent to be "more than" competitive and result in further financial losses and ultimately question marks on the viability of the venture. Would be interested to know if the players are currently free to discuss terms with other clubs and whether there have been any whispers along those lines?
whiskeymac
Guest
marrone appears to be a solid player going well, and getting good reviews at Adelaide's mini revival in Asia. Being young and capable you wld think that a player with his potential wld be signed up quickly by NQ. not only wld he represent a potential future transfer fee if he develops, but in the short term wld cost less (you'd think) wages wise and wld have the energy to cope with the heat up there. my concern wld be whois the coach going to be - will he be able to mould players like Williams and Marrone so they reach their potential? Hopefully with Williams and a few others committing to the club the player exodus wont be too severe. NQ had a few good idea - indigenous liaison officer - and was a moderate success with a "true" marquee. losing 2.5million sounds bad, and especiallyfor one man to bear alone (which was not how he planned it i think, he was just the last man standing) but does anyone know how that stacks upto other clubs and or the expectation of the FFA - havent most if not all HAL clubs lost money regularly? Is it true SFC lost about 5M this season just gone (and despite winning the double?).
kman
Guest
I think all the trouble that the fury have had will actually bring greater support for the Fury. Now that the club is owned by local businesses and is run by the community it shows that Townsville cares about having a football club in their city. I also think Robbie Fowler will stay at the Fury, however I think he will be the manager. He has always talked about wanting to manage in the future and I believe he thinks that the A-league would be a good starting block to then go on to europe.
Coach
Guest
I see David Williams has reaffirmed his committment to the Fury cause today... but if another A-League club swooped in with a multi-year deal could he really be blamed for accepting it?