by laza » Wed Dec 07, 2005 3:31 am
Its big news here in WA Lionheart
From our local paper
Mac the knifed
JONATHAN COOK
Perth Glory chairman Nick Tana has refused to confirm Steve McMahon will coach the team for the remainder of the A-League season as speculation mounted yesterday that he could quit the club as early as today.
McMahon, the former Liverpool midfielder who has had a rocky relationship with some players and at least one senior club official, told Channel Seven yesterday his position had become untenable.
It is not the first time former England international McMahon has been embroiled in controversy.
In his last coaching appointment at English club Blackpool, he resigned from his position before withdrawing the resignation just days later. He went on to finish the season.
Though Tana, who met with McMahon for a second time in two days yesterday, said the coach and the club had not parted ways, the chairman would not comment when asked if a separation was imminent. "Nothing's changed as far as I'm concerned and we've got no announcements to make," he said.
Asked if McMahon would stay for the rest of the season, Tana said: "No further comment."
McMahon, who was told on Monday that his son Steve McMahon Jr would not be offered a contract for next season, refused to speak to The West Australian yesterday.
Despite Glory sitting fourth in the league with just six matches to play, the club has continually refused to endorse retaining McMahon beyond this season. Under the conditions of his contract, if Glory finish in the top four, and therefore clinch a finals berth, McMahon can decide to stay on for another year.
But if he believes he can no longer work for the club, the parties will have to reach a settlement. A payout for next season alone could be worth around $180,000.
Glory have cut costs dramatically this season as Tana, who has poured more than $4 million into the club since he founded it in 1995, has sought to sell his 75 per cent share.
The West Australian revealed before the start of the season that some players were already unhappy with McMahon's abrasive style, while club officials have also been disappointed with his relationship with some sections of the media.
In a radio 6PR interview on Sunday, McMahon revealed a major rift with chief executive Jeff Dennis when he criticised the Glory CEO for being non-committal about the coach's future in a media report.
But despite disgruntlement among the players, some now appear reluctant to press for McMahon to be dumped.
A planned meeting, at a secret location, between Dennis and a senior group of players yesterday was cancelled after the media was alerted to its location.
Forever Red in this life and the next