With Graham Arnold confirming late yesterday afternoon his intentions to remain at the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Heart set to announce their replacement for John van’t Schip this morning, there’ll only be two spots left on the coaching merry-go-round for next season.
When the Heart announce their man, at 10.30am EST, it will leave the two Sydney clubs as the only ones still to announce their manager.
For the sake of the development of coaching in Australia, they could do a lot worse than offer the roles to a couple of our talented youngsters.
Of course, for months it looked almost certain that Arnold would make the move up the F3, and my mail only two weeks ago was that it was all but a done deal.
But there’s an old adage that sometimes, if these things aren’t sorted quickly, they’re not sorted at all, and that appears to have been the case with this on-again, off-again saga.
Things can change very quickly in football and only in the last week Sydney FC have had a re-structure in the board-room that has seen David Traktovenko and his son-in-law Scott Barlow assume greater control of the club.
Meanwhile, up at Bluetongue, Lawrie McKinna has returned from China to take on the role of technical director, while the club works behind the scenes on a funding injection from either Russia or John Singleton, or both.
How much these recent manoeuvres influenced Arnold’s final decision remains unclear, but at the end of the day it looks like he may have opted for the security and continuity offered by the Mariners over the pressure and dollars offered by Sydney.
Sydney FC’s football director Gary Cole, in a statement yesterday, offered a different take, claiming Sydney “were presented with some last minute requests, which we were not prepared to meet”.
Arnold, in truth, never looked totally convinced about Sydney’s offering, regularly clamouring for more favourable terms through the media.
Things, as they say, weren’t meant to be, and in light of day, the procrastination might prove a blessing for all the parties.
While there was a strong push for Arnold to come to Sydney in parts of the media, there were also many questions raised about whether he was the right fit for a club looking to rediscover some of the brash and bravado lacking in recent times.
A manager who has essentially thrived on playing the role of underdog, creating a siege mentality and setting his formation out in a difficult to break down 4-4-2 diamond, Arnold would have had to show a bit more at Sydney.
Now, he decided, wasn’t the time.
It means the Mariners can maintain the stability of the past couple of seasons, while Sydney go to plan B.
Exactly what that is remains unclear, with the rumour-mill yesterday even throwing up the name Ernie Merrick, no doubt due to his past association with Cole at Melbourne Victory.
In truth, it isn’t an option that garners great enthusiasm.
Another option, of course, is to bring back former player and assistant coach Tony Popovic.
That’s of course provided he’s no longer the man for the FFA’s West Sydney franchise.
Two weeks ago Popovic was the strong fancy for the new role, but in recent days it’s been reported he’s been wavering on a couple of points, including the length of the contract offered.
Throwing even more intrigue into the mix is what happens at the Heart this morning.
The strong word is that the club will choose youth coach John Aloisi over first team assistant Ante Milicic.
If that’s the case, then Milicic, another western Sydney product, with recent experience in the region, having successfully coached Sydney United in the New South Wales Premier League becomes another great option.
If there’s one thing that resonated at the two forums for the new team that I attended, it’s that the fans want local products involved, so either Popovic or Milicic would prove very popular choices.
Just as Paul Okon would have been.
With the former Marconi junior eventually unveiled as the new Young Socceroos manager a fortnight ago, it might create opportunities for the two Sydney United products.
Three weeks ago I wrote that it’s time for some of our younger breed of managers to be given a chance on the coaching carousel, and it looks like that’s exactly what’s happening.
If it transpires that Aloisi, Milicic and Popovic line-up at the start of season eight, it would be another step forward in the technical evolution of football in Australia.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
That's a bit unkind Philk. That SFC rabble has been in the finals 5 times out of 7 and won the Premiership Plate and the A-League Championship twice. Good luck to Arnie and CCM, but I don't think Arnold was the right coach for us anyway - we will do better without him. He just used us to get more money out of the CCM owners - he was never coming to Sydney.
philk
Guest
Why in the f***k would the A-League Coach of the Year opt to go to a rabble like SFC, he has a great team with him at CCM, a great bunch of players (no prima donnas), sh***s me off no end how so called experts (Bozza i'm talking to you!!) believe that the universe starts and ends at f******g Sydney. Arnie will prove himself right next season by taking the Mariners a step further in both the A-League and the ACL. FORZA MARINERS!!!! and I'm not even Italian. Just believe that money isn't everything. (Think Borussia Dortmund vs the money of Bayern Munich....great coach, great bunch of players...all so called no names. SMALL IS BIG!!!!!!!!!.
Ballymore
Guest
Bleiberg has experience in starting two clubs from scratch.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Unless you are a SFC supporter you wouldn't understand.. You would not have Merrick anywhere near the SFS or coach of SFC ... We are passionate about the ACL--- where he has shown in the past he has no love for it or the challenge..
Kasey
Guest
Notts county briefly then Leicester City. no longer. Applied for the Leeds Utd job that went to Neil Warnock. currently appears un-attached.
whiskeymac
Guest
well at least its by the sea=) I suppose football clubs should come from cultural and intellectual strongholds, you know because an appreciation of the arts and classics is important in kicking the proverbial pigskin between some sticks more times than an opposing team, but lets hope its not because West Sydney is in a bit of trouble otherwise.
totti
Guest
not angry, just amused.
Midfielder
Guest
Totti Take a pill man .... seek some help with the anger it can cause medical issues if left unchecked...
totti
Guest
central coast = blacktown on the beach.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Oh, I don't know, the Central Coast is probably more attractive than most of Western Sydney. As for Living in the 70s, most of the cities representing the Serie A do a pretty good job of that. They have taken the Lygon St Limbo and run with it.
totti
Guest
'premier's plates' : haha... you'll never win the real prize with arnie in charge. and no, i don't support sydney fc. i just don't think anyone deserves graham arnold as a coach. i also think the central coast region is a complete dump that is culturally and intellectually backward. there still living in the seventies up there. further, you've done nothing in the acl as yet. you really think you're going to beat nagoya at home. laughable.
Midfielder
Guest
ICR LOL that is very funny ...
ItsCalled AussieRules
Roar Rookie
All night Dwight Yorke has been appointed SFC Player/Manager and Head Masseuse for the SFC ladies W-League team.
Midfielder
Guest
totti Its the latest building opened as I said go and have a look at the COE .... by late October the Mariners will have the best training facilities of any code in Australia.... I don't mind people having a go at us but for heavens sake the COE is good for football in Australia not only the Mariners... A link from the Mariners fan forum for you... http://ccmfans.net/board/index.php/topic/1794-mariners-centre-of-excellence-is-go/page__st__660 .... go down and find the post from ADZ for details.... also look to page 35 for the drawings... Due for completion in August 2013... on schedule to date or the revised schedule which changed essentially the extent of it ... added some things and took some things off... Totti the COE will be a major asset for football in Australia not only the Mariners...
pete4
Guest
Another one on Twitter: Brisbane Roar?? Ten News at 5: Tim Cahill talks exclusively about playing for the Roar in the A-League & Socceroos captaincy
Midfielder
Guest
Real Agree 100% in fact WS has the potential to become Australia's biggest club of any code, it depends if they can unite the many football tribes of WS behind the team...
Realfootball
Guest
An exciting, successful Sydney FC. Now there's a thought. They're going to need a magician with a very big hat, long arms and very, very good connections. For all the nice things said about Larry, he coached dull as ditchwater football and filled up the squad with hacks. Slowest squad in the League - Gary Cole said so. Whoever gets the gig has a big job in front of them. I expect West Sydney to not only outperform FC on the park - because they don't have all the dead wood Larry signed - but also to pull bigger crowds. By the end of the season, I predict that West Sydney will already be the city's benchmark club. See if I'm wrong.
Chop
Guest
Stability Totti Two coaches at CCM.....How many for the FC's? 2 CEO's at CCM....How many for the FC's? You sound like a bitter FC.....supporter to me. Don't worry mate, you enjoy your turmoil and bling, we'll enjoy the premiers plates and the ACL
totti
Guest
ONE new building opened? how many years has that taken? what about a playing field, have you got one of those yet?
Midfielder
Guest
totti You need up dating on the COE ... it is coming along very nicely .... very very nicely ... suggest next time you up that way you pop in and have a look .... around the end of October this year it will be well advanced with one of the new building opened...