MIKE Mulvey knew the right thing to do.
But when you can seek advice from the great Wayne Bennett, you don’t knock back the chance.
Particularly when it was a decision that was potentially career-defining.
Then coaching Gold Coast United, Mulvey had to decide in March 2012 whether to stay with the majority of his players and finish the A-League season after the Football Federation Australia stripped maverick owner Clive Palmer of the club’s licence.
United would finish the season under FFA control, but billionaire Palmer promised a career path – not necessarily in football – for anyone that remained loyal to him by cutting ties with the club.
BRISBANE ROAR v WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
Sunday 4pm (EST), Suncorp Stadium, Fox Sports 2HD
Mulvey had only just started life as an A-League coach after taking over from vanquished coach Miron Bleiberg a couple of weeks earlier.
He didn’t want to let down his players, whose futures were as uncertain as his own once the season – and United’s existence – was over.
Mulvey had already made his decision, but figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a chat with master rugby league mentor Bennett, who he had met and befriended 13 years earlier via their involvement with the Queensland Academy of Sport.
“I did speak to him when I was in that predicament,” Mulvey said.
“It was very welcoming that I could talk to someone of Wayne’s stature, with his knowledge and his ability to listen.
“He’s probably the best listener that I’ve ever known. He listens, he digests and he can give a very simple explanation or logical response.
“He didn’t need to tell me what I should do (with Gold Coast United). He said that I had just told him what the answer was.”
Bennett told The Courier-Mail that Mulvey was a “shining light” who deserved the success he has enjoyed at Brisbane Roar this season, including guiding his team to the premiership, taking them to tomorrow’s grand final against Western Sydney Wanderers and being named A-League coach of the year.
“He knew he had to stay with the (Gold Coast) players,” said the man who took the Brisbane Broncos to six premierships.
“I can’t commend him highly enough for the tough decision he made. The FFA said they would look after him (after the season), but they didn’t.
“He risked his future. Now he has been rewarded for that loyalty.”
Regardless of what happens in tomorrow’s final, Mulvey will be offered a contract extension by Roar officials delighted with his work after backing him to return the club to the dizzy heights they reached with Ange Postecoglou before crashing back to earth during Rado Vidosic’s short and forgettable stint.
Roar chairman Chris Fong said Vidosic’s failure to inspire the players during his 11-match stint as head coach debunked the theory that anybody could coach a Brisbane team that includes at least five of the competition’s best 10 players, including Johnny Warren Medallist Thomas Broich and for the last time tomorrow, Melbourne Victory-bound striker Besart Berisha.
“Rado was efficient technically, but he couldn’t wrangle the players,” Fong said.
“We’re very happy with Mike.”
As are the Roar players, including skipper Matt Smith.
“Rado’s a good coach, there’s no doubt about that. But for one reason or another, it didn’t work out,” Smith said.
“It’s not a case of anybody being able to coach this team. Mike came at a difficult time in our history, and a lot of people weren’t too responsive to that, but Mike’s done a fantastic job with us.
“Within the group we trust Mike and we respect Mike. He’s taken aboard what our style is and he’s added his own technique and tactics to make us better.
“Managing our group is not easy. We’re a very demanding group. We want to continue the legacy that was started and he’s a very good leader and a man-manager that’s taken us to where we’ve been this year.”
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