- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Booed off the field and out of favour with the coach just months ago, Sydney FC skipper Terry McFlynn has turned his season and playing future around under current mentor Frank Farina.
The 31-year-old McFlynn has undoubtedly benefited from Farina’s arrival to the club in November.
Stripped of his captain’s armband and dumped to the bench by Ian Crook on the back of some below-par performances, Farina has not only restored McFlynn to the first team but has now offered the Northern Irishman a year extension on his contract, securing his future until the end of the 2013/14 season.
Alongside McFlynn Sydney also re-signed exciting young midfielder Peter Triantis for the next two campaigns and extended reserve goalkeeper Ivan Necevski’s contract for another season.
Farina said McFlynn, who at one stage was harshly booed off the pitch by Sydney’s own supporters, was given a clean slate when he took over the reins.
“I spoke with Terry when I came in here and said `there are a lot of people calling for your head, but I’ll judge you on how you perform while I’m here’,” Farina said on Thursday.
“Since I’ve been here he’s done exceptionally well for us.”
McFlynn has been with the Sky Blues since the club’s inception in 2005 and is the only remaining member of the first-season championship winning side.
But while Farina said his loyalty should be rewarded he joked that the at times sluggish defender could show more urgency on the field.
“I thought he was maybe 33 or something so I said to him the other day `if you’re only 31 you can run a bit more’,” Farina said.
“But he’s a great clubman.
“Some clubs tend to discard players who have given good service but I think you’ve got to create that culture that if you do well by the club and show loyalty it should be a two way street.”
A thankful McFlynn acknowledged his early-season form slump and said he’d jumped at the chance to extend his stay.
“I wasn’t playing my best in the earlier part of this season and I wasn’t picked and rightly so but I worked hard and thankfully got my spot back,” he said.
Meanwhile Sydney were dealt a blow with injury ruling Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill out of their crucial clash with Central Coast Mariners on Saturday.
Sydney revealed on Thursday defender Neill would be out for at least a week after he was diagnosed with a minor calf muscle tear.
Brazilian Tiago Calvano and Adam Griffiths are now expected to be partnered in the centre of defence.
Sitting a point outside the top six and with four games remaining Sydney are in a desperate battle for a finals berth.
Farina is confident Neill will be back for Sydney’s clash with Melbourne Victory next week.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.