Sydney reveal exit strategy for Aloisi
January 6, 2009
SYDNEY FC's underperforming marquee player John Aloisi could see his two-year deal brought to a premature end after it was revealed his management and the club had a "gentleman's agreement" that allowed a parting of ways.
Aloisi has managed just two goals from 15 matches this season, a return which represents a massive disappointment to both fans and club powerbrokers, who have begun to think it may be best if player and club go their separate ways.
The 32-year-old former Socceroo is reported to be earning $1.4 million per year - which would make him the highest paid footballer of any code in Australia - but with Sydney's fickle sporting market losing interest in the Sky Blues, the club knows it needs more from its marquee player.
Sydney FC have stood behind Aloisi all season and coach John Kosmina has backed his talisman to find form, but chairman Andrew Kemeny yesterday admitted the situation could not be allowed to fester, and the club would be looking to make a decision on Aloisi soon.
"I haven't spoken to Aloisi, I don't believe that's necessarily my job," Kemeny said. "The coach has been speaking regularly, and if I did speak to him, I would speak to his agent [Paddy Dominguez], who I respect. And look, we did have a gentleman's agreement when we signed Aloisi that if he's not up to the task physically - in other words, if he was injured - he would probably say to us, 'Look guys, it's only fair to both parties that I stop playing.'
"Whether we have reached that stage, I'm not sure - and I'm certainly not qualified to say that, and the decision is not over yet."
Asked if he felt he would have liked more from a marquee player, Kemeny was blunt. "Of course we would have. That goes without saying," he said.
The news almost certainly spells an end to Aloisi's time at the club. Should Sydney be able to untangle themselves from the deal, they will almost certainly go looking for a marquee player of international standing, one capable of matching the impact made by Dwight Yorke during the A-League's first season.
Kemeny said that while the agreement was not officially written into any contracts, it existed in a verbal sense and was understood by both parties. "That is the truth. There's nothing in writing, but nobody would deny it. That's purely a vague, general agreement," he said. "John might well come good and have a pre-season which he didn't have this year.
"But he has a contract and the club will have to honour that contract unless they can come to some sort of mutually acceptable and satisfactory arrangement."
If Aloisi is axed, he is likely to demand to be paid the full amount of his contract, given that he knocked back offers from elsewhere to sign with Sydney FC. Speculation is already mounting that he will look to link up with his hometown club, Adelaide United, and that he will be an instant replacement for the retiring Paul Agostino.
January 6, 2009
SYDNEY FC's underperforming marquee player John Aloisi could see his two-year deal brought to a premature end after it was revealed his management and the club had a "gentleman's agreement" that allowed a parting of ways.
Aloisi has managed just two goals from 15 matches this season, a return which represents a massive disappointment to both fans and club powerbrokers, who have begun to think it may be best if player and club go their separate ways.
The 32-year-old former Socceroo is reported to be earning $1.4 million per year - which would make him the highest paid footballer of any code in Australia - but with Sydney's fickle sporting market losing interest in the Sky Blues, the club knows it needs more from its marquee player.
Sydney FC have stood behind Aloisi all season and coach John Kosmina has backed his talisman to find form, but chairman Andrew Kemeny yesterday admitted the situation could not be allowed to fester, and the club would be looking to make a decision on Aloisi soon.
"I haven't spoken to Aloisi, I don't believe that's necessarily my job," Kemeny said. "The coach has been speaking regularly, and if I did speak to him, I would speak to his agent [Paddy Dominguez], who I respect. And look, we did have a gentleman's agreement when we signed Aloisi that if he's not up to the task physically - in other words, if he was injured - he would probably say to us, 'Look guys, it's only fair to both parties that I stop playing.'
"Whether we have reached that stage, I'm not sure - and I'm certainly not qualified to say that, and the decision is not over yet."
Asked if he felt he would have liked more from a marquee player, Kemeny was blunt. "Of course we would have. That goes without saying," he said.
The news almost certainly spells an end to Aloisi's time at the club. Should Sydney be able to untangle themselves from the deal, they will almost certainly go looking for a marquee player of international standing, one capable of matching the impact made by Dwight Yorke during the A-League's first season.
Kemeny said that while the agreement was not officially written into any contracts, it existed in a verbal sense and was understood by both parties. "That is the truth. There's nothing in writing, but nobody would deny it. That's purely a vague, general agreement," he said. "John might well come good and have a pre-season which he didn't have this year.
"But he has a contract and the club will have to honour that contract unless they can come to some sort of mutually acceptable and satisfactory arrangement."
If Aloisi is axed, he is likely to demand to be paid the full amount of his contract, given that he knocked back offers from elsewhere to sign with Sydney FC. Speculation is already mounting that he will look to link up with his hometown club, Adelaide United, and that he will be an instant replacement for the retiring Paul Agostino.
