Central Coast have stood down veteran A-League goalkeeper Liam Reddy indefinitely over ongoing disciplinary issues, prompting the players’ union to threaten legal action against the club.
The Mariners confirmed in a statement on Wednesday evening that the 34-year-old will not travel with the squad to play Melbourne City this weekend.
It is his second ban in recent months.
The club said it took the decision to make the shotstopper unavailable for selection based on a “series of off-field issues” that were at odds with Football Federation Australia’s national code of conduct.
The Mariners added the decision followed Reddy’s one-week suspension during some of the pre-season “where similar and continual disciplinary issues were also addressed”.
Reddy was critical of the Mariners’ in their 2-1 loss to Brisbane last Sunday, hitting out at coach Tony Walmsley’s preference for younger players and his emphasis on attack over defence.
“I’m outspoken, I’ll say it how it is,” Reddy told News Corp Australia on Saturday.
“Some people like that, some people don’t.
“I rub people up the wrong way sometimes but if you ask me a question I’ll tell you how it is – if you don’t like it, I don’t give a f***.”
Reddy’s suspension sparked an angry backlash from Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), who issued their own statement accusing the Mariners of breaching its legal obligations to the player.
PFA chief executive Adam Vivian said it would launch legal action if the club continued to “bully and harass the goalkeeper out of the club” after he was told he is no longer in their plans.
“In an attempt to force Liam to leave on terms suitable to the club, the Mariners have threatened him with the prospect of training alone and have issued him with a second written breach notice, despite never having received a first,” Vivian said.
“This action taken by the club is simply unacceptable and is hugely damaging to Liam’s reputation and, more broadly, to that of the A-League.”
It isn’t the first time Reddy has fallen out with an A-League club, having been dumped by Sydney FC in 2012 over his drunken escapades on a team flight to New Zealand for the side’s elimination final with Wellington Phoenix.
Reddy is contracted until the middle of 2016.
Paul Izzo is set to take over as keeper for Sunday’s match away to Melbourne City.
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.
Nestory Irankunda was denied a parting gift in his final A-League appearance before heading overseas, with Central Coast's Danny Vukovic pulling off a spectacular…
Central Coast Mariners are premiers of A-League Men for the first time in 12 years after defeating Adelaide in the season finale.
This weekend, a year long odyssey ends in either triumph or heartbreak. After taking the longest possible route - twelve matches, seven opponents, six…
Central Coast sit second behind Wellington, and a victory over Adelaide will see them finish the regular season on top of the ladder.
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
