FORMER Mariners boss Graham Arnold has opened discussions with Sydney FC over their vacant coaching position, but has dramatically been ruled out of consideration to take over the Newcastle Jets.
Arnold held initial discussions with Sydney officials on Monday, though it’s understood the talks were a long way short of preparing a formal offer.
This morning Newcastle, with whom Arnold had spoken in detail over their own head coach’s job, announced they were pulling out of talks, leaving Sydney as his most realistic option.
The band is back together for a grand final edition of the Fox Football Podcast — with a few special guests dropping in as well. Adam Peacock, Simon Hill and Brenton Speed are in the studio, where they are joined by Wanderers fanatic Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson, who dropped by for a chat too, and on the line by Brisbane Roar defender Jade North. Daniel Garb is on deck again to talk Mourinho, Liverpool, City and all things EPL & Socceroos.
“Over the last two months the club has been conducting an extensive selection process for the Head Coach position which involved a number of domestic and international candidates including Graham Arnold, but after several discussions an agreement could not be reached,” the Jets said in a statement.
“The club will continue the Head Coach selection process and look forward to making an announcement shortly.”
Graham Arnold, pictured during his time as Socceroos assistant coach. Source: News Limited
The shock development came after Sydney confirmed last night that they had prepared a shortlist of candidates to replace Frank Farina. Arnold was contacted at the start of the week to outline his expectations of the role.
It’s believed he indicated his desire to bring in his conditioning expert from the Mariners, Andrew Clark, who also joined him on Arnold’s short-lived switch to the J-League, and outlined his preferred recruitment plans.
Sydney had issued a statement in which they said the recruitment of a new coach was “well advanced” and Football Federation Australia technical director Han Berger, who joins the Sydney board after the World Cup, is heavily involved in the choice.
Berger, who has the permission of FFA CEO David Gallop to do so, has a relationship with Arnold dating back to his time as assistant national coach.
Arnold was due to leave today for a week’s holiday in Noosa, but his agent, Tony Rallis, said that a number of clubs were interested in his client.
“I have spoken to several clubs, including one significant side in the Asian Football Confederation, but I haven’t spoken to Sydney,” Rallis said.
Sydney CEO Tony Pignata declined to comment on specific names, but said that the club had already moved to contact identified candidates.
“We are well underway in the recruitment process of a new head coach and we have shortlisted a number of candidates both from overseas and here in Australia,” Pignata said in a statement
“We are commencing discussions with some of the shortlisted candidates. No strict timeline has been set for finalising this process but it is well advanced and is the club’s number one priority.”
Arnold has held several discussions with Newcastle about becoming their head coach, with the Jets clearing out their coaching ranks in apparent anticipation last week.
Meanwhile Sydney have agreed to a pre-season tour that will see them play games against two English Premier League sides as their new coach’s debut in charge of the club.
The Football United tour in Wellington and Dunedin will see Sydney face Newcastle United on July 22, then West Ham four days later, with Wellington Phoenix playing both teams also as hosts, though it seems unlikely that players who feature in the World Cup will travel for the games.
“We thank Wellington Phoenix for the opportunity to play against two of England’s most famous clubs,” Pignata said. “It is fantastic that the Phoenix is putting on this event and that Sydney FC has been asked to take part.
“Playing against two strong EPL sides will be a great experience for our players and will be an important part of our pre-season programme. You don’t often get the opportunity to have games against such quality opposition leading into the season.”
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