Newcastle Jets coach may be facing axe - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Newcastle Jets coach may be facing axe

09/10/2006 08:09:12 PM Comments (0)

Newcastle Jets coach Nick Theodorakopoulos could be facing the axe from the A-League club after failing to register a win this season.

An SBS report has suggested the dual NSL premiership coach was told not to bother showing up to Tuesday's team training session pending an announcement about his future

Jets striker Joel Griffiths allegedly let slip the news that Theodorakopoulos was on the way out in an interview with Melbourne radio station SEN on Sunday.

Griffiths is quoted as saying Theodorakopoulos "may not be around next week".

The 42-year-old replaced Englishman Richard Money as coach of the club during the off-season after Money was sacked despite guiding the Jets to the A-League's inaugural final series.

Newcastle is yet to win a game under Theodorakopoulos against A-League opposition with the Jets' second season riddled with problems.

The club's pre-season preparations were severely hampered by injuries and player recruitment problems, highlighted by the drawn-out departure of former marquee player Ned Zelic.

After losing goalkeeper Joel Reddy, who had previously had a falling out with Theodorakopoulos while at NSL club Parramatta, the Jets failed to sign an experienced shot-stopper before the season.

They have instead had to rely on teenager Ben Kennedy to fill the void - without a back-up - for the opening seven games of the season.

Despite making the pre-season semi-finals, the Jets lost four and drew two of their pre-season games, before slumping to the bottom of the ladder with three draws and four losses to start the season.

With Colombian import Milton Rodriguez firing in a 2-2 draw with Sydney FC and 1-1 stalemate against Central Coast, the Jets looked to have turned the corner last month.

But they have since lost 3-0 to Perth and 2-0 to Melbourne in disappointing performances.

Theodorakopoulos is only the second Australian-born coach to be appointed to an A-League club, following Adelaide United's John Kosmina.

He took Wollongong Wolves to National Soccer League title in 1999-2000, before guiding Parramatta Power to the last grand final of the old league in 2004.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news