Sydney FC uncertainty in run up to English friendlies

Sydney FC remain in the dark over a variety of issues in the run up to this week’s friendlies against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC.

The Sky Blues still have a question mark over the future of several of their players including who their marquee will be for next season.

The recent announcement that Sydney were parting ways with record-breaking striker Marc Janko has meant that the side are without a talisman striker heading into their big matches this week.

Meanwhile, eleven players will be out of contract on May 30, with a question mark lingering over many of their futures at the club. Peter Triantis, Sasa Ognenovski, Nick Carle and Corey Gameiro all were injured during the season and their future with the club remains in doubt.

Ivan Necevski has expressed a desire to stay with the club but could be deemed surplus to requirements by Graham Arnold, who could be hoping to rebuild the squad entirely.

First team regulars Matthew Jurman, Milos Dimitrijevic and Bernie Ibini are still out of contract despite playing an integral part in the club’s season and finals campaign. Shane Smeltz and Robert Stambolziev were regularly used as substitutes throughout the season and could move on to find more playing time.

Hagi Gligor completes the out-of-contract group, with the small midfielder falling out of the first team side midway through the season. The players’ contracts finish on the same day they are due to take on Tottenham and therefore, players can still take part in this match under contract.

Adding to the player situation, goalkeeper coach Zeljko Kalac has left the club for rivals Western Sydney Wanderers and the club is currently without a replacement. Arnold had promised a younger team would face Chelsea and Tottenham and he could be forced to live up to that promise against Chelsea with only fifteen first team players available.

George Blackwood, Chris Naumoff and Alex Gersbach are currently with the Australian Under-20 side and it is uncertain whether they will be available for the Tottenham game.

Two new additions have bolstered the Sydney side, with Andrew Hoole and Brandon O’Neill filling the midfield with younger players. The side will now be forced to search for a marquee player with Serie A’s current top scorer, Luca Toni, a name being rumoured.