Branko Culina has been sacked from the Newcastle Jets head coach role, with youth team coach Craig Deans taking over the role in the interim. Was this a smart move on the Jets behalf?
Culina has been with the club since the 2009 season, and has been training the squad over a 180 day long pre-season. The decision to terminate his contract has passed with the Jets playing against Melbourne Heart in just four days time for the Jets.
This decision has obviously come late in the piece, and while the circumstances are at this stage unknown, most see the links between son Jason’s season-ending knee injury after surgery.
Club owner Nathan Tinkler appears to be upset with his insurance company, as they won’t cover the costs of the surgery.
It is absurd to think Branko Culina would know that his son was going to have a recurring knee injury. If Tinkler should fire anyone, why doesn’t he leave the insurance company he is with?
I’d rather see Branko sacked for poor run of results or something a bit better then Tinkler being angry about a medical cost.
Branko was there with the club through a tough period under the old Con Constantine ownership, stuck with the club when there was no certain future and when it looked as though the club would fold.
I would of loved to see him at least take the reigns of the Heart game on the weekend to farewell him.
I would extend thanks to Branko for everything he has contributed to the Newcastle Jets the past two seasons.
I would also like to say on a more positive note congratulations to Craig Deans for taking on the head coaching role in the interim and wish him all the best as a young coach in Australia.
KnightsSupporter
Guest
You don't have to support a different club to think that, you just have to have known tinkler at some stage. In my opinion and from my personal experience he is the most egotistical person I've met. That was before he's money. The money just made him even worse. They call him "the whale" in Queensland for good reason, he's actually not that bright and uses his weight to good advantage and why not, there's a lot of it. When it comes to the knights and the jets, watch this space. These are my opinions only though. Although an experience I have had is he sometimes reaches out and grabs things that aren't his, if he ends up reading this he'll know what I'm talking about. Congratulations on his success though, regardless of my opinion. As the saying goes, you can't reach the top without making enemies. Hopefully he can do that for my home teams.
Hooplah
Guest
Shame all this, but a real disaster all round. Not the way you will keep a white knight in the A-League. Culina must be pretty must kaput now. If Culina was a racehorse on Tinkler's stable he'd be struggling to sleep at the moment. Don't recall ever hearing a horse recovering from knee surgery to win terribly much.
Benchwarmer
Guest
All reports say the Newcastle Jets Advisory Board sacked Culina, not Tinkler. Tinkler just agreed with their decision. And I don't think Tinkler is fuming at the costs of surgery, probably moreso the $2.4million contract for a player who won't play a game for the club.
James
Guest
Do you come from a life with an egotistical micromanaging owner? If so I'm guessing your a Perth Glory supporter
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Welcome to life with a egotistical micromanaging owner in charge.