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.
JasonA
Guest
He tore up Alex Smiths contract and tore up two young Australian players contracts to sign two Eritrean refugees. Great work Clive !
Bondy
Guest
Interesting Arteta to Arsenal on the final day of the transfer window ,suprise suprise no medical . http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/966534/mikel-arteta-says-he-did-not-have-arsenal-medical?cc=3436 .
Realfootball
Guest
And that was an abuse of the system if ever there was one - and it probably cost Merrick his job in the end too.
DavoRR
Guest
I have been told that either Branko or the Jets sacked their previous physio because he told them NOT to sign a player with Jason's injuries. So who did the medical & who recommended they sign JC.
Midfielder
Guest
http://i.imgur.com/bbz17.gif
whiskeymac
Guest
worked for the maldinis didnt it?
whiskeymac
Guest
indeed. not the way such a respected player shd bow out. i cannot refute what you say other than am curious as to ow much this ocnflicts with the reported line of "Schwab also told Sportsline that Culina was confident he’d be able to complete the final two years of his contract." someones either lying or as uninformed as me in all this - i s'pose it will all come out in the wash eventually. sad day for culina and the fans.
John Hines
Guest
i can't see any overseas based australians would want to come back here for the next 5 years pure and simple
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Couple of relevant documents http://www.pfa.net.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Fact_Sheets/PFA%20-%20Form%20of%20Contract.pdf http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=138 Assuming he has a valid standard contract, the Jets get to pay Jason Culina for the whole three years, as it is the longer of 104 weeks or the contract. Fox sports are reporting that the FFA are refusing to set aside (ie cancel) Jason Culina's contract. http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/football-federation-australia-confirm-it-has-no-authority-to-set-aside-jason-culinas-jets-contract/story-e6frf4gl-1226159466830
Griffo
Roar Guru
I think the line before was that Tinkler was not going to fork out more money without getting insurance to cover Jason's layoff. I took that to mean international marquee or otherwise. Today, however, is a different story: http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/jets-search-for-new-marquee-to-soothe-supporters/2314750.aspx Maybe Tinkler thinks he'll recoup the costs eventually or is prepared to wear the loss.
Griffo
Roar Guru
The original statement: http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/newcastlejets/news-display/Newcastle-Jets-Statement/41473 - not exactly three years, but 'up to' three years. The finer details get lost when media outlets play chinese whispers with text. btw in the spirit of knitting my new Jets scarf: I think the subsequent medical advice after the second operation wasn't good, or at least, tried to be realistic in the likelyhood of Jason playing in any of the three seasons of his contract.
TomC
Guest
Ricardinho was the international marquee.
wisey_9
Guest
my guess would be that harry would have filled the "international marquee" spot, and culina would have been the "australian marquee"...
Bondy
Guest
One thing i've found strange in dotting the I's and crossing the T's , that the Jets put a bid in for Kewell a couple of months back, that would've meant two marquees at the one club something i've never heard of .
Kasey
Guest
I don't know if World Soccer Magazine is considered a knitting circle, but the Culina saga has made their Soccer Daily, 10 stories you must read: The Australian players’ union has vowed to fight for World Cup midfielder Jason Culina who has been informed by Newcastle Jets’ that they wish to tear up his A-League contract. Newcastle Jets sacked Culina’s father – coach Branko – and also served notice they wanted to terminate Jason’s $2.65 million three-year deal after he was last week ruled out for the season. Branko was fired amid suggestions the club think he knew about the extent of his son’s injury before he was signed than he let on. Culina, it has to be said, has not been the shrewdest of investments by the Jets. The Socceroo has not played for the club since he moved from Gold Coast in the close-season and has struggled with a knee injury picked up late last season. To read more, including an incredible quote from Tinkler to reporter on an unrelated meter click http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/world-soccer-daily-10-stories-you-need-to-read-october-5th I'm looking forward to seeing how Les Murraty(that magazine's Aussie correspondant) writes up the preview to the new season given SBS's detectable distaste for all things FFA and HAL. Yes, I subscribe, its a great read and a good way to learn about football around the globe:) It also gives a look at how football in Australia is portrayed:)
Raghu
Guest
Jason should have just stayed with PSV.
Futbanous
Guest
Agree would definitely get more bums on seats. More than Brett Emerton IMO. Not more than Harry or Dukes though for me. But its a matter of opinion in Tim's case because I doubt whether we'll see him return to Australia to play. Then again I thought Harry would never return to play. Of the two(K or V) I would have picked Dukes to return to a Melbourne club.
Axelv
Guest
When Colosimo knocked Archie's knee out of place in the Grand Final (to which the Sydney fans cheered as he lay on the sidelines in pain) and Archie was suppose to be out for 12 months (came back sooner), didn't Victory sign an injury replacement marquee? Ricardinho. Couldn't Newcastle do the same and sign up a new marquee as an injury replacement? From what I understand you can have 2 Marquees and 1 has to be Australian. The Australian Marquee and an International Marquee (International can be Australian) Such as Thompson, Kewell or Carle, Emerton. The talk of Culina denying Newcastle a marquee player is nonsense. And the club has no-one to blame but themselves for gambling on an already injured player.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@ Ian Whitchurch How many times can I say this ... This is a workplace issue that involves a footballer - the IR laws of the Commonwealth of Australia will determine how the case is handled. If an unjust outcome eventuates it reflects badly on the IR Laws in Australia - it does NOT reflect badly on football or the HAL. I can't believe how football-haters, with nothing better to do with their time now that their petty little games are over, want to continue to stick the boot into OUR game.
apaway
Guest
Futbanous Should he ever decide to return to the A-League, I reckon Tim Cahill would put bums on seats.