Third party allowed in Coolen legal fight

By court reporter Loukas Founten

Updated December 13, 2012 08:56:54

A court has let Adelaide United bring a third party into its contract dispute with former soccer coach Rini Coolen.

Coolen is suing the club for unpaid salary and benefits after being demoted less than halfway through his four-year contract.

The Reds mounted a counterclaim against the Dutchman, his agent John Grimaud and Mr Grimaud's sports management business.

Mr Grimaud's lawyers were refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision.

The District Court heard a judge had now been appointed and it would proceed as planned next month.

Tags: courts-and-trials, law-crime-and-justice, a-league, soccer, sa, adelaide-5000

First posted December 13, 2012 08:56:54

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Coolen, Reds go to mediation

Updated May 22, 2012 14:40:31

Adelaide United has agreed to go to mediation with its former coach Rini Coolen over a contract dispute.

Coolen was demoted to the position of youth coach last December, 18 months into his four-year contract.

He quit the club and launched proceedings in the South Australian District Court, claiming he is owed a $370,000 salary for each season remaining on his contract, as well as other benefits.

Lawyers for the club told the court it was entitled to require Coolen to undertake other duties under his contract as it was he who chose to leave after his demotion.

Coolen has requested that the matter be expedited because he may be forced to leave the country under the terms of his employment visa.

The parties have agreed to try mediation before the matter returns to court in July.

Tags: courts-and-trials, a-league, adelaide-5000, sa

First posted May 22, 2012 14:34:50

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Axed Coolen takes Adelaide United to court

Updated May 22, 2012 16:49:16

Dutch soccer coach Rini Coolen fears deportation from Australia while pursuing court action against the A-League club which replaced him, Adelaide United.

Lawyers for Coolen claim United misled the Dutchman, who was dumped as Adelaide's head coach last December - 18 months into a four-year contract worth $1.1 million.

Coolen's lawyers appeared in the South Australian District Court on Tuesday, arguing Adelaide United breached the Dutchman's contract.

But the club says Coolen was not sacked but merely redeployed to a junior development role, which he opted not to perform.

Coolen's lawyer, Andrew Short, said the redeployment was untenable and Coolen was seeking damages over his contract.

Coolen remained in Australia on a visa sponsored by Adelaide United and his living situation was endangered by losing his job, Mr Short told the court.

"It places at risk his ability to stay in the country," he said.

After being removed as coach, Coolen lodged a claim against United under Football Federation Australia's grievance resolution regulations.

But the FFA's appeal committee ruled the case can't go through the grievance process.

The ruling prompted Coolen to go to the district court's civil jurisdiction, seeking damages.

Lawyers for Coolen and United on Tuesday agreed to mediation meetings, with the court setting a settlement conference for July.

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted May 22, 2012 16:49:16

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Coolen prepares to tackle Reds in court

Loukas Founten

Updated May 18, 2012 18:11:42

Former Adelaide United coach Rini Coolen has launched legal proceedings against the club in the South Australian District Court, claiming his four-year contract was breached.

Coolen was dumped as senior coach in December, 18 months into a four-year contract.

The Dutchman was asked to see out his contract as head of the club's youth development but quit days later and lodged a grievance procedure with the Football Federation Australia (FFA).

But the FFA's Appeal Committee has since decided it cannot handle the matter.

Coolen filed court documents on Wednesday and has requested an urgent hearing.

He claims the clubs owes him $370,000 for each season remaining on his contract as well as a $25,000 bonus for helping the Reds secure a spot in the Asian Champions League.

Coolen says two days before he was demoted he was told by a club representative he had lost the board's confidence and was asked to resign, with the club offering to pay him his entitlements until April this year.

But Coolen declined, saying he wanted to continue in the role.

He also claims the club misled him during contract negotiations in January 2011.

He says his manager John Grimaud received an email from CEO Glenn Elliott, claiming that "we are here for the long term and want Rini with us" and "our word is our bond. We are not people who lose six games and then try to execute the coach."

Coolen says on the strength of that advice, he decided to remain Adelaide rather than accept a higher paying position in Japan.

Coolen was replaced by John Kosmina after a disappointing start to last season.

The matter is due in court next Tuesday and the club is yet to file a defence.

Tags: a-league, soccer, courts-and-trials, adelaide-5000, sa

First posted May 18, 2012 13:46:25

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Coolen gets his marching orders

Updated December 18, 2011 16:28:26

Adelaide United has sacked Rini Coolen as head coach less than 48 hours after the embattled A-League club fell to its fifth loss of the season against lowly Gold Coast.

Coolen has been replaced by former Adelaide boss and Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame member John Kosmina.

"We have gone to John (Kosmina) because he is a passionate South Australian with a great history," club chairman Greg Griffin said in a statement.

"He has taken this club to being premiers before, he is a man who believes in the club, he has passion, and essentially the reason this ownership group got involved with Adelaide United was so that there would be a strong football presence in South Australia.

"Clearly what happened on Friday night at Hindmarsh Stadium was not acceptable and basically we're here to make sure that we've got a strong and vibrant Adelaide United."

Touted as a contender to win it all in the preseason, the Reds have won just two games from 11 starts and have conceded the most goals whilst scoring the fewest.

Their -13 goal difference is thanks in part to a 7-1 thrashing by Brisbane in October.

Kosmina was the Reds' inaugural coach between 2003 and 2007 and led them to the 2006/07 grand final in which they suffered a 6-0 thrashing that forced the former NSL champion out the door.

Adelaide United also won its maiden premier's plate under Kosmina in 2005-06.

His intitial term is for the remainder of the season as well as the club's 2012 Asian Champions League campaign.

"It's not often you get a second chance at things… and it's a challenge I couldn't knock back," Kosmina said.

"It's a challenge I'm looking forward to and I do love this club.

"I was here from day one and it was sad to be at the game on Friday night.

"I'm not rying to hammer the dead, but I didn't like what I saw, not just from the team's point of view but I don't like to see the punters as upset as they were.

"We've got to re-embrace the supporters, we've got to get them back on side because they are, as first captain Ross Aloisi used to say, the 12th man and we need them on side."

Kosmina was coaching local side Croydon Kings, which released him to allow him to take the reins at Adelaide.

Coolen received a lucrative four-year contract extension before the start of this season and that has not been terminated.

Griffin said he will remain at the club to coach the youth team and also guide the junior development program.

"Rini is still an employee of the club, he has just been directed to assume complete control of the youth development program, the youth team and provide a blueprint for us going forward," Griffin said.

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted December 18, 2011 13:59:37

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Adelaide can still make finals: Coolen

Updated December 03, 2011 11:53:28

Adelaide United can still contest the A-League finals despite chalking up another unwanted record loss, coach Rini Coolen says.

The Reds' 4-0 loss to Central Coast Mariners on Friday night was Adelaide's heaviest loss on home soil at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The defeat came just over a month since Adelaide were pounded 7-1 by Brisbane Roar - the Reds' biggest ever loss.

But Coolen, despite the Reds banking just two wins and sitting second last on the ladder, maintains his club can recover to make the finals.

"We still have a chance to be in the top six and qualify for the finals. I still 100 per cent believe in that," Coolen said.

"But we have to improve in a lot of areas."

The Dutch coach said injuries were taking a toll, with Adelaide missing a host of big names on Friday night.

Star striker Sergio van Dijk hopes to return from a three-match absence with a calf injury next weekend, while influential defender Cassio (foot) and marquee midfielder Dario Vidosic (back) are sidelined indefinitely.

Ukrainian international Evgeny Levchenko came off the bench against the Mariners in his comeback from a calf injury.

"We can do better, we have too much quality," Coolen said.

"But we need all the quality all available and (to) lift our confidence and play better football.

"We have to work on a lot of things.

"We have never played with the same team, the same players, the same formation - and that is what you need to lift your players to a higher level.

"One of the positive things for us at the moment in this league is you still have a chance to qualify for the finals ... because every team is very close together.

"But our level of how we prefer to play is far away from the level which we have to do."

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, adelaide-5000, sa, gosford-2250, nsw, australia

First posted December 03, 2011 11:35:59

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