John Kosmina’s sensational resignation from Adelaide United must act as a massive wake-up call for those who run the club.
The explosive comments Kosmina made in announcing his resignation offer a brief insight into the behind-the-scenes running of the club.
There have been many whispers about the administration of the Reds in recent years, and it seems Kosmina has decided martyrdom is the best way of exposing the problems he sees with the club’s management.
The 56-year-old did not hold back in his attack, saying he had “absolutely no regret” in leaving a club that “lacks trust”.
“There is far too much whispering in corridors and around corners,” he said.
“I can see no clear direction. There is no vision.
“Decision-making at management level is reactive and impulsive at best, and there is no consistency in managerial procedure.”
Kossie’s constant reference to an environment void of trust is damning, and he is not the first Adelaide United head coach to do so.
In fact, all three of its coaches have bemoaned the lack of faith from club management.
Rini Coolen said he was shocked when he was sacked in 2011, with the board declaring it had lost confidence in him and his plan to develop South Australia’s juniors.
“I was shocked by that because I always thought that the board and I had a good relationship of trust,” Coolen said.
“There had never been any indication of concern at my program and my management. I was very disappointed and surprised by that.”
Coolen last week agreed to a $400,000 settlement payout from the Reds after declaring he would sue the club over his messy departure.
But before Coolen was one of the biggest indicators of a club in crisis the A-League has seen.
Following a 4-0 semi-final drubbing at the hands of Melbourne Victory in February 2009, then coach Aurelio Vidmar launched into his infamous “pissant town” post-match tirade.
“There are too many people in this club with hidden agendas,” Vidmar said.
“That’s the problem. That 4-0 result tonight was politics, nothing else. Whether you are involved directly or indirectly you have an effect.”
“Things change very quickly in football clubs. If someone’s not happy with something, they do whatever they can to fracture it. That’s what they do. Whether it’s jealousy or ego, whatever it is, it certainly smacks of that at our club at this point of time.”
Vidmar surprisingly didn’t lose his job after the outburst.
But, like Kosmina, it was something he was more than prepared to cop if it led to changing the troubled club culture.
“I couldn’t give a damn about my future,” he said.
But there was one comment that sprayed forth from Vidmar’s lips that night which now stands out as being incredibly prophetic.
“Because of a pissant town, this club will never win anything until you get rid of that crap,” he said.
Since then, despite a change of ownership, the “crap” remains and club has failed to get its grip on any silverware.
The consistent breakdown of relationship between coaching staff and the board is one that cannot be allowed to continue.
Melbourne Victory was perceived to have similar problems when new management cleaned out two-time championship-winning coach Ernie Merrick and football manager Gary Cole in 2011.
The instability that followed meant Mehmet Durakovic and Jim Magilton found it very difficult to garner the full faith of the board.
Only after Ange Postecoglou came in and commanded respect, trust and control, have the Victory recaptured the stability to return them to the top of the Australian game.
But there are very few A-League level coaches who are capable of this.
So it falls to the powers that be at Adelaide United to be the change the club so desperately needs.
AVictory
Guest
When you consider that the 6000 crowd in Tasmania is included in MV's average, MV's average is also way up compared to last year, our lowest crowd in Melbourne this year has been 17,000, and i believe without the regional round included the average is 22,500 with still the Melbourne Derby to come.
Vincent
Guest
Agree totally with the comment re Ange commanding respect from the board!!! He seems "bigger" (well, maybe literally too) than Anthony Di Pietro and his chumps!
j binnie
Guest
kellett 1992- unfortunately cannot help you all that much for I only started collecting figures from around October 2010. Newcastle Jets last year averaged 12,114 to their 13 home games. Their "worst" gate was 9311 against GCU and their best was 17,254 against Victory.To do the proper statistical "thing" these two gates should be removed and their average gate calculated over 11 home games. Doing this gives an average of 11,875 so it would be correct to say Jets have a reasonably steady home attendance of around 12,000. This year with the arrival of Heskey,that average over 7 home games is sitting at 12,868.The reason I only use 7 as the dividing factor is that their 8th home game was against Sydney FC and they had their largest crowd of the season at 22,970. Now whether this was due to the "ADP effect" totally,or the "Heskey effect " made a contribution, I could not say but that aside,the Jets even then are enjoying growth of 6% or 10% (depending on how you want to do the sums) this year, but a disturbing feature is that they have had their lowest attendances at their last 2 home games in January and that is a trend they can do without. jb
Cameron
Roar Guru
J Binnie, You ever thought about being a preacher? I think you would do a mighty fine job! :P You know your stats or how to put then across in a certain way, well, could you track the increase Brisbane Roar have had since 09/10? Have a look at the increase Perth glory had experienced before that poor excuse of a scheduled match? (since being in grand final)? Also have a look at the crowds attracted at Newcastle before heskey and now with him (also factoring in last seasons attendances when Newcastle were away versing e.g. victory compared to this season)? Would be very interested to know how much influence these teams have had on the A-league's success this season. And don't discount adp for one second as the highest attendance Brisbane had this season with adp only 2-3 thousand more than the best attendance against Perth glory last season. If you don't mind :)
j binnie
Guest
John L - It is difficult to give you an exact figure in comparing this seasons average figures (at 90 games played) with the average figure attained by all clubs from last season but here are some rough comparisons Increases---- Victory 9%, Sydney FC 63%, Roar 8%, Jets 13%, WSW (xGCU) 297%, CCM 5%, AU 14%, Heart 2%, Perth 2%. Decreases--- Wellington 17% You will see from these figures that the overall increase being enjoyed by the HAL at the 90 game mark, ie just over 13%, is being greatly affected by 3 factors,the ADP effect at Sydney's home games,his effect at other club's home gates,(many TOP gates being achieved when playing Sydney),and of course the absolutely huge differential between GCU's home gates and WSW's home gates. jb
JohnL
Guest
Thanks for that!
Midfielder
Guest
Look at this site and it shows each year ... essentially SFC up hugely.... WSW when compared to the Gold Coast up hugely all other up by small margins accept the Nix who are down ... http://www.ultimatealeague.com/records.php?type=att
JohnL
Guest
Mid, any chance of putting up a percentage increase/decrease of the clubs averages compared to last season?
Cameron
Roar Guru
Genius I am! If my sources are correct Called it the other day in mike tuckermans article - " Not surprised whatsoever! I have heard for a while that club owners are pathetic in the way they run that club. I’ve heard Paul Okon will get the gig, whether that starts now or next year I don’t know. I feel sorry for Adelaide united playing group. Keep an eye out on Dario Vidosic to potentially leave."
Midfielder
Guest
Strong rumour Paul Oken will be there next year ... follows on from AP & GA having national coaching experience and being aware of who the best juniors are as well as knowing them....
Midfielder
Guest
Off topic but just sharing and JB I am sure you have these as well... its just we don't have a thread for it the way the Roar works we cannot get a sticky ... Just a snap shot after two rounds… what I find interesting is only 3 rounds fell under 10 K and all exceeded a 9K average… Only 3 teams are under the 10 K average PG have ground issues and some poor scheduling this year like the last match was played when the cities Australia day fireworks was on… I honestly think Heart are getting better crowd wise if FFA wanta help them maybe Lyle Gorman should be sent down for 12 to 18 months …. AU traditional support will come back when their management gets its act together… the Nux HHHHHMMMMMmmmmm not sure the current owner’s hHHMMM just not sure where they stand long term… Round Average with a season average of 12, 522 1 …. 18, 700 2 …. 16, 316 3 …. 14, 064 4 …. 12, 711 5 …. 13, 319 6 …. 10, 358 7 …. 14, 685 8 …. 9, 424 9 …. 10, 987 10 …. 9, 172 11 … 13, 710 12 … 14, 046 13 … 13, 071 14 … 12, 940 15 … 12, 920 16 … 9, 253 17… 10, 128 18 … 12, 221 MV … 20, 984 SFC … 19, 300 Bri …. 14, 128 Jets … 13, 573 WSW … 11, 677 CCM … 10, 317 AU …. 10, 038 MH …. 8, 882 PG …. 8, 641 Nix … 7, 332
dinoweb
Roar Guru
Um, sorry Johno, but Adelaide United already existed prior to the demise of the NSL. They and Perth Glorty were the only two NSL clubs granted entry to the A-League. The creation of Adelaide United had nothing to do with Frank Lowy, or the FFA. A-League crowds are 2-3 times the size of NSL crowds. Even the "big" clubs like South Melbourne, Marconi, Sydney United and the like never had average crowd attendancs anywhere near the A-League. As a Brisbane Strikers fan, I was initially put off by the Roar winning the Qld bid, but I gave Roar a go, It only took a couple of trips to their games to become a fan, and no I am not being disloyal to the Strikers. They play in different competitions. They do not compete against one another. To suggst that would be the same as saying no one should supprt a team in Australia, and one in any other competition around the world at the same time. I'm pretty sure most of us do that. As for the argument that "non-football" people have somehow hindered the development of the A-League, I'd just like to point out that it was "football" people who ran the NSL and the clubs in it. If we compare the two, I'm fairly certain that the management of the NSL is a long way behind that of the A-Laeague.
Ballymore
Guest
For what its worth, BNE distanced themselves from those rumours today.
Jon stevens
Guest
Fancy being paranoid that Valksnis was going to take your job. What an insecure bozo.
Realfootball
Guest
They could not possibly say anything else. It's a meaningless statement, under the circumstances.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Brisbane Roar officials have said they have "no intention" of even meeting with John Kosmina. http://m.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/roar-have-no-intention-of-approaching-john-kosmina-about-coaching-role/story-fnddgn65-1226563891103
Realfootball
Guest
I really don't see how it could have been done any other way. Compare the A League attendances now with the NSL. Is there anything to suggest that the strategy was wrong? Certainly I am all for wide inclusion, but a complete break with the past was essential. Half measures were not possible.
Atawhai Drive
Guest
Very good piece, Jesse. There was nothing strange about Ange's departure from the Roar. But what about Kossie for the Roar? Have you heard anything?
Johnno
Guest
New consortium is being looked at to take over licence. Adelaide city would be good to. A better jersey, real football, and a modernised club. Frnak Lowy will retire soon, he is in his 80's, he haunts unitied football in Australia he has divided it. I love Frank Lowy and think he has done more for sokah in this country than anyone, other than Johnny Warren and SBS. But he hasn't completely united it, he has left out a lot of real football people. Adleaide city, STH Melbourne fans, and just given licences tot he wrong people. Foz talked about this this week in his column about the waste, the A-league has had on having non football people run the show.
Realfootball
Guest
He had a young son in Melbourne. Don't underestimate the role that played in his decision. I am sure his reasons were multi faceted. There was his son, the fact that Melbourne is his home, the fact that Victory are the biggest club in the country, the shoestring budgets the Roar operate on, and his oft expressed disapppointment that the Brisbane public were not coming to see this extraordinary team in numbers that the team's record deserved.