We can’t say we weren’t warned. John Kosmina told us his former assistant Michael Valkanis had agreed to a two-year deal to overthrow him at Adelaide United.
Half the footballing public thought he was crazy and jumping at shadows, the other half deduced his unexpected departure from the Reds was symptomatic of a club in poor health.
Either way, it’s hard to shake the sense that Kossie’s prophecy is about to come true, and the whispers in the corridors at Hindmarsh were on the money.
Adelaide United will make a “major announcement” today at 12.30pm South Australian time, when chairman Greg Griffin and A-League boss Damien de Bohun will hold a press conference at the Hilton in the city centre.
They are not expected to talk coaching – this is, apparently, ‘good news’.
So don’t expect an immediate answer to this conundrum until at least the end of United’s finals campaign. Which, depending on who you ask, might not be that far away.
The coaching appointment is the single most important item on the board’s agenda right now, given the need to solve the strange disconnect between the front office and the home end.
After Kossie worked himself up and and walked off the job earlier this year, Adelaide promised to scour the world for the right man to lead the recovery effort.
Yet a few weeks on from that announcement and word is Valkanis still has it in the bag regardless.
Last week, Craig Foster peeled back the curtain. The SBS analyst is part of a selection panel formed by the club, and is charged with weeding through the inevitable mountain of applications.
The panel is headed by part-owner Bruce Marveggio and also includes former Socceroos John Perin and Alex Tobin and ex-Liverpool fitness coach Darren Burgess, who now works at AFL club Port Adelaide.
It was a smart move to create this well-credentialed committee, and it ever-so-slightly hushed the howls of discontent from the terraces. This appeared a shift towards transparency.
But it could be a facade.
The jungle drums are beating. There have been a grand total of zero interviews conducted with other applicants.
Foster has asked questions of the panel’s exact ‘terms of reference’ in an intriguing statement on his public Facebook page. In other words, he is worried the panel is a toothless tiger.
The relationship between Adelaide and its supporter base is already strained, but this club cannot lie again and give Valkanis the job like this after the pledges that have been made.
Tellingly, there is an additional reason, one equally as compelling. Right now, he doesn’t deserve the job.
United stumbles into the finals with the worst form of the top six.
Brisbane Roar will visit for an elimination final this weekend but the prevailing feeling amongst the Red Army is the Adelaide is mere cannon fodder for the defending champions.
If Valkanis is offered the job after that, would it automatically put Kosmina in the right?
If so, and the selection panel is exposed as an invention purely for PR purposes, it is another gut-punch to a club that has already taken hit after hit.
This is a critical juncture in Adelaide United history. It will define the next few years. The trust of the fanbase hangs in the balance.
Valkanis is a former club captain and was loved by fans for his uncompromising approach in defence.
But he is not a popular coach, and is instead seen as a convenient, cut-price option for a board seemingly more worried about the bottom line than the back four.
Let’s hope Adelaide United’s powerbrokers instead opt to follow their own rules and allow the selection panel to fulfil its purpose.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
If thats the case buddy they should do a special on you,an ex GCU fan travels from SA to go watch his most bitter rival Brisbane Roar play?,i don't know whether to be impressed or bewildered.I would go out on a limb and say your the only football fan of all codes across the country that does that.
Actual Supporter
Guest
Mate you say I lasted 2 years, my name is general aleague supporter. I have spent more money to attend games this year than you probably have in 3. I live in SA. I have payed to fly to attend: 5 Brisbane games this season (in Brisbane) 3 Mariners games at Bluetongue stadium, and 3 MV games in Melbourne, 2 heart games in Melbourne, and also attended 3 adelaide games. So don't tell me about having spent all this money you spent when I have payed probably more to attend a game in a league where "supporters" can't even support their club. I do know that fans need to be listened to, but a lot of "fans" need to realise what they say can't be done a lot of the time, otherwise your club will cave in quicker than I can click my fingers, as I have already stated it is still a business!
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Bill wasn't short of a quote or three.
Kasey
Guest
I love my club; the board would do well to remember though that I am considered a rusted on football fanatic. I am more than likely to attend Hindmarsh Stadium regardless of who wears the red shirt or who manages the team. Other football fans in Adelaide may and obviously do require a bit more coaxing than I.
Kasey
Guest
I like that Bill Shankly quote, but my favourite is always likely to be: "Of course I didn't take my wife to see Rochdale as an anniversary present. It was her birthday. Would I have got married in the football season? Anyway, it was Rochdale reserves."
Kasey
Guest
Offensive much? we have fans and a trophy or two;) when was the last time Heart generated a 10k+ crowd for a non-derby game?
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Well i've been going to watch the Glory for 16 years,parting with alot of money to do so,in the early years as a teenager parted with money i didn't really have to waste on football but i did,stood in rain and oppressive heat and so did penty of others like me,so if i wanna take issue with how my club is being run on occasion then i have every right and will still know my love for the club isn't "fake".Good on you for lasting the 2 years you did,Glory fans have been putting up with crap for 8,and haven't jumped ship as quick as the bulk of the GCU "fans" did.Sporting teams are a business you are right,but owners sometimes have to put their egos aside and admit when they are wrong and listen to what the fans say needs to change,YOU of all people should know that.I'll leave you with a Bill Shankley qoute: "In football there is a holy trinity,the players,the manager and the supporters,the directors don't come into it they just sign the cheques".
Actual Supporter
Guest
"Brick Tamlin" No, not any more. To be honest I was a Gold Coast united fan. And I supported them until the very end. So to talk about what support is and being behind your club no matter what is something North Queensland, GCU fans know all about. Hope that clears up that I don't support a particular club anymore
dasilva
Guest
I don't mind it I think one thing due to the lack of promotion and relegation is that the A-league seems like a closed shop between manager. It's either a) same group of manager gets recycle, you know the kosmina, farina, culina b) foreign manager c) Managers working with the Socceroos/Matildas/Young socceroos/Joeys etc d) ex-socceroos getting the job for the first time as manager in their coaching care Unless you played internationally or part of the national set up or has coached in the NSL previously you are not going to get the job. Where's the young manager working from the lower leagues and then getting promoted to the top level? Is there any opportunity for Australia to develop their own Brendon Rogers or an Arsene Wenger Other leagues where there is a connection between the top of the pyramid to the bottom. IF a coach does well in the lower levels and get their team promoted they get poached by bigger clubs and vice versa. It allows clubs at the lower levels to signs young managers and develop them. There really isn't a career pathway for coaches from the grassroot to the elite So getting coaches who does well in the state league and promote them. I'm happy with that. It does actually In terms of him not being qualified - well Popovic being a career assistant manager wasn't really qualified and being the head manager for the first time isn't qualified either. However he was selected because he had experience as a assistant manager and he is a young manager who could develop. Mori is a young manager who could develop and he actually does have experience as a head manager abeit in the lower levels. It's a good thing that people who do well in the lower levels have opportunity to advance to the next level and given a shot. TO be honest with the whole Australian Premier League that is part of the goal
apaway
Roar Guru
Penny He (Alistair Edwards) is also a tactically astute, highly credentialed coach who has been one of the instructors in the FFA's professional coaching licences, has sat on interview panels for the Socceroos position, and is an articulate people manager. From a distance, it does not appear that Michael Valkanis possesses the same attributes.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
"I am a general A-League fan",are you a fan of any club in particular?.
apaway
Roar Guru
Ian Ferguson was a way more astute coach than Michael Valkannis.
apaway
Roar Guru
No, Johnno, it isn't.
bryan
Guest
"I’m confused when I hear staunch supporters lose faith so easily. For me, supporting a club is like showing support for family or good friends. When things are not running smoothly … that’s when your support is most needed." Damn you,Fuss,I'm not supposed to agree with you ! :)
Actual Supporter
Guest
I am a general aleague fan. Anyone without bias can look statistically at this season. Adelaides losing streak would mostly point to the injuries of djite and carrusca specifically. Perth have a great fan base, but no one can use the excuse support is bad due to issues and what club has been through. A supporter is there through anything. Results will never be perfect for any club. You are not perfect so get over yourself. At end of the day sporting teams are a business as well. If you choose not to support a team due to what they have been through. You should not have been there to start with. You all need to open your eyes and realise that the "love" you have for a team is fake and you are better off supporting a bunch of 3 yr olds if that is the attitude you have.
Dazman
Guest
Hahahaha, Adelaide United seems like a slightly more functional version of Melbourne Heart at the moment.
Franko
Guest
Totally agree Rob. I love United but this is hard to take at the moment.
Rob McLean
Guest
Please do not appoint Valkanis. He appears a poor man manager, who is content to kick out at everyone due to his own inadequacies. His performances in front of the media are mumbly and jumbled, which provides an indication of how he may speak to his players. He seems barely in control. The Melbourne Victory match was scinitillating and enjoyable to watch (not surprising given the enmity between the two sides) but apart from that, we've seen nothing to indicate that Valkanis should keep the job, let alone that he could take us to the top. I'm tired of this club slipping on banana peels. The Northern End fans make much ado about nothing, the admin does not work cohesively and the sacking of Coolen and appointment of Kosmina (which should never have been - we know the man's an egomaniac) were poorly handled. I love the Reds but, at the moment, the club as a whole is hard to watch.
Franko
Guest
I will be gutted if it is Mori. Another unproven at A-League level. Winning a few championships at State League level does not qualify you to be an A-League coach. This is a cheap option and frankly if he's under contract City wouldn't let him go, some old wounds there.
Kasey
Guest
Yes, this broke last night on football websites and FB. Just makes the AFL look childish and petty really. Nobody likes a bully. In Australia we have a history of supporting the sporting underdog and punishing hubris, there's a reason the Tall Poppy syndrome thrives in this country. All this sort of action will do is force those people who are 50-50 soccer&footy to feel like they have to choose one or the other. Inevitably some will choose the world game (I did [was a Crows member for most of the 1990s], Fussball did). Not a good look for the AFL and quite needless really.