Postecoglou exit talk not ideal: Gallop
Oct 16, 2017 - 7:42 AM The Ange Postecoglou imbroglio looks set to fester after Football Federation Australia boss David Gallop failed to end speculation about the Socceroos coach's future.Reports surfaced after the last World Cup qualification game against Syria that Postecoglou would quit after next month's playoff matches against Honduras.
Reports on Monday then suggested Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua is set to offer him a $US3 million ($A3.8 million) deal.
Gallop didn't provide any clarity on Postecoglou's future - short term or otherwise - when he fronted the media earlier on Monday.
Asked if Postecoglou had confirmed that he'd be stepping down after the matches on November 10 and 15 Gallop said: "No, I think he's not necessarily indicated that he's made a decision, he's focused on November and that's where we're at.
"Obviously I've spoken to Ange a number of times, a number of factors go into this kind of thing.
"He's made no secret of the fact he wants to coach week-in week-out again, but his focus is on November and knuckling down to the task which is to qualify for our fourth consecutive World Cup."
Postecoglou has yet to address the initial report, that suggested he would pull the pin regardless of whether the Socceroos qualify for the World Cup or not.
On Monday, News Ltd reported that Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua was preparing to offer Postecoglou a deal worth $US3 million ($A3.8 million) if he quits his role with the Socceroos.
The Chinese glamour club has a tough history with its coaches, with former Premier League manager Gus Poyet quitting his position in September.
Poyet was the club's 15th head coach in the past 10 years.
Reports have also surfaced that Postecoglou had tired of what he perceived to be incessant criticism of his tactics.
"I would hope it's not player power," former Socceroos captain Paul Wade told AAP.
"He's been copping from the media who are asking him to be sacked, but Ange is big enough to handle that.
"The key word for me is undermined, as a coach, if you're being undermined by whoever, then I would find it untenable."
Wade was frustrated by the lack of a definitive answer on Postecoglou's future, but said he understood why it wasn't forthcoming.
"I'd rather say nothing and get it sorted out rather than being a bitching session,' Wade said .
"Maybe they're letting it calm down a little bit in house and then they're going to tell us.'"
Gallop conceded the timing of Postecoglou's reported departure wasn't great and stopped short of giving him total endorsement when asked if he still had faith in him as the national coach.
"Very confident in the fact hat he's focused on these games and we don't get much time to prepare in these situations," Gallop said.
Asked who might be contenders for the post should it fall vacant, Gallop said: "I'm not in a position to give you names but I can tell you that we're constantly making sure that we know what's out there and what the positions might be."
Source: AAP
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