Sydney FC coach Frank Farina has confidently declared he expects to hold the job for “quite a while” despite the A-League club still yet to confirm he will have it next season.
Farina was appointed in late November after Ian Crook left the club and Steve Corica had a short spell as interim head coach.
Sydney have stabilised under the former Socceroos coach, winning four, drawing three and losing four.
The Sky Blues enter this weekend’s round in eighth, but only two points off fifth.
They host Brisbane – who are above them on goal difference – this Sunday in what Farina has described as a “six-pointer” between two finals aspirants.
Sydney haven’t yet secured his services for next season, but Farina doesn’t seem worried about his future at the club.
“I’m Sydney FC coach at the moment and I expect to be for quite a while, so we’ll wait and see on that,” Farina said at training on Friday when asked about his future at Sydney.
He appears to have the backing of marquee player Alessandro Del Piero.
“Frank is a good man,” Del Piero said.
“We have to be focused with him and stay with him and follow him,”
The Italian superstar is on the verge of becoming Sydney’s all-time record goalscorer in a single season.
He is on 10 goals, a mark he shares with former Socceroo and current Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi.
“I hope to do that, (get the record) with the win (on Sunday),” Del Piero said.
“If it happens, it’s the best thing for me and for the team.”
Farina said the record would represent a great milestone for Del Piero.
“He’s been sensational for the club, both on the field and off the field this year,” Farina said.
“To have ten goals already, I think he’s done extremely well.”
Del Piero said Sydney needed to play with passion and heart against Brisbane and treat every remaining match like a final.
Farina confirmed Brett Emerton would be back from injury, but that fellow veteran Jason Culina would not be in the starting side.
He will check on Saturday on the condition of Yairu Yau who is flying back to Australia after appearing in a World Cup qualifier for Panama midweek.
Midfielder
Guest
HHHMMMMM mmm jury is still out ..... however he has turned there season around ... and the game he played against us I honestly think they out played us .. also tho they were a tad over physical...
Qantas supports Australian Football
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After Farina was sacked as the Roar's manager his stocks plummeted to absolute zero.. It was not because he suddenly became a bad ideas man in regard with football tactics. He was sacked because he forgot one of the most important requirements his job entailed at the club and that was to maintain discipline---in its place he created a culture at the Roar, which became untenable for the FFA and the owners... It seems to me he has learnt some important hard lessons in that, you don't take the fans, the owners, the media, or the code for granted. I'm willing to give him another chance, but he better not stuff up again, or it will definitely, will be, the end for him and if not the club too..
Mato-Bateman
Guest
Farina probably knows something about Culina that we don't. He might not be 100% fit and maybe starting him from bench is a masterstroke.
Realfootball
Guest
If Sydney aren't prepared to pay international rates for a quality coach, it has to be an Australian. That pretty much means Farina, unless they can pull Arnold away from CCM. The job is not for rookies.
Andyroo
Guest
It wouldn't fill me with much excitement if I was a Sydney fan and they re appointed Farina. I think it's a challenging job (squad make up, media profile and board interference) and not suited for a rookie. Good and experienced coaches are hard to come by and it seems they blew their chance to get Arnold. They would have to go overseas to find a better solution than Farina so I think Frank has a decent shot at keeping his job. Maybe Van Schip? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Qantas supports Australian Football
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Or Ned Zelic?
Titus
Guest
Nothing I have seen under Farina gives me an indication he is the right man for the future of this club. Many of the points we got in this time have been fortunate or as a result of grinding out ugly wins. It's not really what I signed up for. I really hope the board knows what it is doing because another two years of this mediocrity will be bad, especially when WSW are playing so well......................have you spoken to Okon yet?
Qantas supports Australian Football
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Too early to make those sort of statements Frank---you still have a lot more work to do to convince the SFC supporters you can take us to the next level next season... Although I'm seeing some good progress by you, in turning this club around, I'm still not totally convinced you can do it next year.. Jason Culina seems to have a bee in his bonnet for whatever the real reason is, (I can't believe you are going to drop him for the game against the Roar?). We are reading reports in the press that Culina is showing a lot of discontent. This shows to me you still have a lot more work to do in getting the squad to believe in your football philosophy. I'm hoping you will come through for the sake of the supporters of this club, because this club needs to show Australian Football advocates we are the real deal---the bench mark when it comes to super Australian Football clubs in our league, which other football clubs should be following---not us falling behind trying to catch up to the rest of the pack.