Socceroo pair in mix for West Sydney signing

Updated June 01, 2012 17:16:01

Socceroos Scott Chipperfield and Mark Bridge have emerged as potential marquee signings for new A-League club West Sydney after both made significant moves on Friday.

Bridge asked for a release from the final year of his three-season deal with Sydney FC, while Chipperfield will go from beating Manchester United with Swiss club Basel to taking on the likes of Dapto Dandaloo and Wollongong United.

Chipperfield will return to where it all began after committing to a short-term deal with Wollongong club Tarrawanna in the Illawarra Premier League.

He has indicated his desire to secure an A-League deal as he winds down his impressive career, but is unlikely to find a home at Sydney FC which has recently signed former Melbourne left-back Fabio.

New West Sydney coach Tony Popovic has connections with both players, which could be a decisive factor in any future contract negotiations.

Bridge, who was granted a release by Sydney FC, is familiar with Sydney's west, having played for Parramatta in the old NSL and, at 26, has proved he has the maturity to lead any attack.

He cited a desire for a new challenge as reasons for wanting to leave the Sky Blues, and being involved with a new club from the ground up could appeal to the talented striker should he choose to pursue his career in Australia rather than overseas.

Chipperfield has had a successful decade overseas and he's come a long way from his days of driving a bus in Wollongong to supplement his then meagre football income.

Basel knocked out Manchester United in this year's European Champions League before losing in the round of 16 to eventual runners-up Bayern Munich.

When he returns to Australia, he will trade Old Trafford for the more humble suburban grounds of the south coast.

Tarrawanna secretary Phillip Porter was delighted to have Chipperfield back at his junior club.

"Scott has been very involved with our club, he was our shirt sponsor a few seasons ago. It will be good for our fans to see him play," Porter said.

"He has indicated that he wants to play the whole season, and we're confident that he will be available for a minimum five games even if he secures an A-League contract."

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, blacktown-2148, nsw, australia

First posted June 01, 2012 17:16:01

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FFA 'betrayed' Queensland clubs

Updated June 01, 2012 16:05:22

A report into the state of soccer in Australia has found organisers of the A-League's decision to ignore existing clubs and support networks had caused problems for the game.

The man who produced the report has also said that Football Federation Australia had "betrayed" soccer in Queensland by not acting to save defunct clubs North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United.

Former Gold Coast United owner and mining magnate Clive Palmer co-founded Football Australia, the body which commissioned a public inquiry into the state of the game.

FA independent commissioner Gary Collis released a 48-page report on the inquiry's findings in Brisbane on Thursday.

Collis, the former head of the South Australian Football Federation, said there was anger among contributors to the inquiry about the way Queensland clubs North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United - had been treated.

"The Queensland Federation and the people of Queensland did everything that was asked of them by the FFA," he told Grandstand.

"They set up zones, they set up development squads, they did everything that was asked on the basis of this career path, and then they (the FFA) took it away.

"In my view, the FFA betrayed the people of Queensland, and by taking away North Queensland Fury, by taking away Gold Coast United, it's just been a disgrace."

Collis said that people who had spoken to him had said it was positive that the game was being given a national audience on pay TV, and that the national league was a good thing.

"The real concern was the lack of democracy and accountability ... with the FFA the perception is they don't want that to happen because they're too scared they won't have a job," he said.

Collis told Grandstand that the feedback from people in the football community who took part in the inquiry was that the FFA had erred in the form of the new A-League right at the start.

"Where they (the FFA) went wrong was ... that when they set the new teams up, they ignored the teams that were already there like South Melbourne, the biggest club in Oceania one year," Collis said.

"(South Melbourne) have never been contacted as far as I'm aware by the FFA.

"We had APIA (Leichhardt), South Melbourne, Heidelberg (United), we had Marconi, all these clubs had the infrastructure there, they had the supporters, had the crowds.

"But the FFA in its judgement decided to ignore all that history to set up new clubs and we've really been stumbling along ever since then."

The FFA chose new franchise names and ownership groups which were not tied to existing clubs, citing a need to avoid old tensions between clubs and supporters groups in the new league.

But Collis said the FFA had ignored the nature of football leagues around the world.

"It was fractured, it was a bit tribal, and isn't that what football's about, tribalism?" he said.

"When Man(chester) City plays Man(chester) United, it's tribal.

"Whilst there were some issues to deal with, and they needed to be dealt with, I don't think we should have wiped away the history of the game by setting up these new clubs that really play musical chairs with their owners."

Critics have queried Football Australia and the inquiry, saying it was too closely linked with Palmer, but Collis defended his report.

"My vested interest is ... I'm not on any boards, I still try to play the game, what I've done is to provide a report on what people have told me," he said.

"And if they'd said we love the game, there's nothing wrong, that's what the report would have said."

The report will be released to state and Federal MPs, football associations and a range of organisations.

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, australia

First posted June 01, 2012 16:02:16

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Liverpool set to unveil Rodgers as boss

Updated June 01, 2012 07:16:22

Liverpool is set to unveil Brendan Rodgers as its new manager on Friday after agreeing a compensation package for the Swansea boss and three of his backroom staff.

Rodgers met Liverpool owner John Henry for talks on Wednesday and agreed to take charge of the Merseyside outfit provided the Reds could match the 5 million pound ($7.9 million) compensation fee in his contract with Swansea.

After several hours of discussions with Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, Liverpool sealed the deal and former Reading and Watford boss Rodgers is now certain to succeed Kenny Dalglish, who was sacked two weeks ago at the conclusion of a miserable Premier League campaign.

As part of the compensation talks, Jenkins has also agreed to let assistant manager Colin Pascoe, performance analyst Chris Davies and head of sports science and medicine Glen Driscoll join Rodgers.

The 39-year-old is expected to sign a three-year contract and will be presented at a press conference at Anfield on Friday.

A statement on the Swansea website read: "We can confirm that a compensation package with Liverpool has been agreed for manager Brendan Rodgers and three members of his backroom staff.

"Both clubs have been in discussions to sort suitable compensation for Brendan along with assistant manager Colin Pascoe, performance analyst Chris Davies and head of sports science and medicine Glen Driscoll.

"The Swans have agreed to allow the backroom trio to join Brendan following discussions between himself and chairman Huw Jenkins.

"The club now starts its search for Brendan's successor."

Rodgers had refused a request to meet with Liverpool following Dalglish's sacking at the end of the Premier League campaign, but the Reds made a renewed effort to speak to him after holding discussions with Wigan's Roberto Martinez last week.

The Northern Irishman is reported to have made it clear to Henry he would not work under a director of football after Liverpool's American owners considered hiring former Ajax coach Louis van Gaal to fill that role.

But Henry seems to have agreed to that as he could not risk losing a man regarded as one of the Premier League's brightest young managers after guiding unheralded Swansea to an impressive 11th place finish on a relatively meagre budget just one season after securing promotion from the Championship.

Alan Curtis, who was Rodgers' first-team coach at Swansea, is confident his old boss can win over a sceptical fanbase, many of whom wanted a return for former boss Rafael Benitez.

"If the players buy into what Brendan's trying to preach to them, then you can only see good things to come for Liverpool," Curtis said.

"He's a top-class coach, a top-class manager, but he is a real top-class man as well.

"He has this knack of being able to say the right things, do the right things.

"He's got a British mentality, yet he has almost got a continental feel about him in the way that he coaches. It is a tremendous combination.

"I can see the Liverpool fans probably wanted a bigger name, but he is a terrific young manager.

"He is the epitome of the modern-day manager. He is bright, he is fresh, he is really innovative and I'm sure he will do a fantastic job there."

Rodgers' selection for one of English football's most prestigious posts completes a remarkable rise following his sacking as Reading boss just three years ago.

Since then Rodgers, who regards Jose Mourinho as his mentor after working as the Portuguese coach's reserve-team boss at Chelsea, has completely rehabilitated his reputation.

He studied coaching sessions at Barcelona and Ajax and copied those clubs' philosophies to help Swansea produce an eye-catching style of play which earned plaudits this season.

Now he will take over a Liverpool squad at a low ebb after finishing eighth in the Premier League, 17 points away from the Champions League spots that Henry had targeted at the start of the season.

The Reds did win the League Cup under Dalglish, but their season ended with a lacklustre 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup final against Chelsea.

And Dalglish's ruthless dismissal should make it clear to Rodgers that he must challenge for the Champions League places at the same time as reinvigorating a team sorely in need of an infusion of creativity and pace.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, england, united-kingdom

First posted June 01, 2012 07:06:27

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England's Euro woes continue as Lampard limps out

Updated June 01, 2012 06:11:04

England midfielder Frank Lampard has been ruled out of Euro 2012 after a scan on the thigh injury he suffered in training.

Lampard sustained the problem while training with the England squad on Wednesday and boss Roy Hodgson decided the Chelsea star would have to be replaced when tests showed he would not be fit for any of his side's three group matches.

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has been called into the squad in Lampard's place, subject to agreement from UEFA's medical team.

"Frank Lampard has been ruled out of Euro 2012 due to injury," a statement on the Football Association's website confirmed.

"The Chelsea midfielder pulled his thigh in training on Wednesday and was examined today (Thursday) by the England medical staff following a scan."

Although Lampard was not certain to beat out Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker for the central midfield berths in Hodgson's starting line-up at the Euros, it is still another major blow for Hodgson as he has been in superb form of late, playing key roles in Chelsea's Champions League and FA Cup triumphs over the final weeks of the season.

Hodgson must be starting to fear England's Euro challenge is cursed as he has already had to deal with Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry's withdrawal from the squad with a tear of his lower abdomen suffered in last weekend's friendly win over Norway.

As if that was not bad enough, Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker, a likely candidate for Hodgson's squad, was ruled out when he injured his ankle on the final day of the Premier League season, while Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy had to pull out of the squad with a broken finger.

Hodgson has already gambled on the fitness of Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck, who has not played since April 30 when he sustained an ankle injury in the derby defeat at Manchester City, and Liverpool defender Glen Johnson, who has been struggling with an infected toe.

"It's a huge blow for the team, especially coming after the loss of another senior player in Gareth Barry," Hodgson said.

"The fact that the doctor cannot guarantee Frank could take part in any of the group matches means we have to replace him in the central midfield area.

"Apart from it being a huge blow to me and the team, I'm especially disappointed for Frank himself.

"He has been in very good form and was looking forward to the tournament.

"He made a huge contribution towards us qualifying for the Euros so it is cruel to be forced out through injury just before the tournament."

Lampard, who had only just joined up with the England squad after an extended break following the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich, could be forgiven for fearing he has missed his last chance to shine at a major international tournament.

The 33-year-old is approaching the twilight of his career and Hodgson may well turn to younger midfielders like Jack Wilshere and Tom Cleverley during the qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Hodgson has one more friendly, against Belgium at Wembley on Saturday, before his 23-man squad fly to their Polish base next week ahead of their Euro opener against France on June 11.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, england, united-kingdom

First posted June 01, 2012 06:09:17

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Sydney FC names new CEO

Updated May 31, 2012 20:05:36

Newly-appointed Sydney FC chief executive Tony Pignata wants his tenure to be a period of growth for the club.

Pignata, who on Thursday was named as the Sky Blues' seventh chief executive in as many years, says his vision for the club is one of growth and sustainability as he attempts to create long-term success.

"Sydney is the largest market in Australia and Sydney FC is one of the biggest clubs. It's important we all work together to turn fans into members if we're to continue to grow," Pignata said.

"Stability is obviously crucial in any business.

"My philosophy is we need to all work together and be united as one club, from the car park attendant at home games through to fans players and officials."

Pignata knows the A-League landscape well, having been Wellington Phoenix chief executive from the club's inception in 2007 until his resignation in 2010.

He says he is looking forward to the new Sydney derby but denies it will have too much bearing on his approach.

"Having a western Sydney team is fantastic for the league and great for the city, it doesn't change the way I approach my role," he said.

"We want to get the whole town talking about it."

Pignata takes the helm on June 12.

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sydney-2000

First posted May 31, 2012 20:05:36

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Campbell warns of racism, violence at Euro 2012

Updated May 29, 2012 11:56:26

Former England soccer captain Sol Campbell is warning England fans not to travel to Euro 2012 because of the threat of racism and violence.

Campbell, the former Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur defender who played 73 times for England and appeared at six major tournaments, said UEFA should not have allowed Poland and Ukraine to host the event.

"Stay at home, watch it on TV," he told BBC's Panorama program.

"Don't even risk it ... because you could end up coming back in a coffin."

Campbell's comments come after the family of two black England players said they would not go to the championship.

The brother of midfielder Theo Walcott has tweeted that he and his father would not go because of "possible racist attacks", while the family of his Arsenal team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have also shelved their travel plans.

The BBC documentary investigated violence and racism at football matches in the host countries.

It contained footage of fans giving Nazi salutes and taunting black players with monkey noises and anti-Semitic chants.

It also featured footage of a group of Asian students being attacked at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, which is hosting three group matches.

Campbell said UEFA was wrong to have allowed the eastern European countries to host the competition, starting on June 8.

"What they should say is that if you want this tournament you sort your problems out," he said.

"Until we see a massive improvement, that you have sorted it out, you are never going to get the tournament.

"You do not deserve these prestigious tournaments in your country."

Last week UEFA president Michel Platini said he was optimistic that there would be no racism at the matches, but agreed he was powerless to prevent it happening himself.

"I believe the tournament will be a great success, and I trust the fans will behave, but we shall see. There are problems at every tournament, always," he said.

"We also have problems with hotel prices in Ukraine, and we have raised our serious concerns.

"We do not want fans to stay away for any reason, and I hope they do not."

In a statement, UEFA said: "Euro 2012 brings the spotlight on the host countries and clearly creates an opportunity to address and confront such societal issues."

"UEFA's zero-tolerance approach to racism is still valid both on and off the pitch and ultimately the referee has the power to stop or abandon a match should racist incidents occur."

Reuters

Tags: euro, soccer, sport, world-politics, race-relations, ukraine, united-kingdom, poland

First posted May 29, 2012 11:56:26

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