Wanderers coach Marko Rudan’s failure to answer for his team’s record loss further adds to his clouded future

A Western Sydney Wanderers hero could return to the club as a replacement for coach Marko Rudan who is under fire after his latest display of petulant behaviour.

Western Sydney Wanderers coach Marko Rudan is seemingly fighting to save his job. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Marko Rudan remains “safe for the moment” as Western Sydney coach despite more erratic behaviour and amid speculation that the wayward Wanderers want prodigal son Tony Popovic to return to the club next season.

Pressure has intensified on Rudan, who failed to show up to his post-match press conference in the wake of the Wanderers’ humiliating 7-0 loss to Melbourne City on Tuesday night at AAMI Park.

It was Western Sydney’s third successive loss, with Rudan’s men having conceded 14 goals in the hat-trick of defeats.

Among the A-League title contenders earlier this season, the Wanderers have now slid out of the top six ahead of Saturday night’s battle with the Glory in Perth.

Western Sydney’s poor form has come during a tumultuous period for the club, including Rudan being suspended for bringing the game into disrepute by creating a “hostile or unsafe environment within the sport” with comments had made last month after his side’s 4-3 loss to Macarthur FC.

Rudan sent his assistant coach Jean-Paul de Marigny to front the media on Tuesday night, with a team official offering the limp excuse that he was unavailable because of a team meeting.

However, post match media conferences are often run late to accommodate coached.

Rudan, who signed a three-year contract extension only two months ago, is now seemingly fighting to save his job.

Sources close to the Wanderers have told News Corp Australia that club officials have reached out to Popovic – whose Melbourne Victory coaching deal expires at the end of season – about making what would be a romantic return to Western Sydney.

There is speculation that Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic has been sounded out about returning to the Wanderers. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Popovic, who was at AAMI Park on Tuesday to watch the Wanderers’ embarrassing loss, was the club’s foundation coach and guided them to AFC Champions League glory in 2014.

However, his shock resignation in October 2017 to accept an offer from Turkish club Karabukspor strained his relationship with Wanderers owner and chairman Paul Lederer.

It’s understood, though, that Lederer is keen to bury the hatchet with Popovic, and bring him back to Western Sydney.

Popovic isn’t the only high profile coach that the Wanderers are interested in, with former Melbourne City championship-winning mentor Patrick Kisnorbo, who was sacked by French club Troyes in November, also in their sights.

It’s also understood that former Macarthur FC and Matildas coach Ante Milicic has told the Wanderers he would be willing to return to Australia from Croatia if they were interested in his services.

Wanderers sporting director Eddy Bosnar denied the club was already looking for a new coach.

When asked if Rudan’s job was safe, Bosnar said: “Everyone’s safe for the moment.”

He also rejected claims that Rudan had lost the dressing-room despite speculation of mounting tension between the coach and his players.

“As a club we need to stick together. You don’t throw the towel in,” Bosnar said.

“Everyone needs to go in the same direction. We can turn it around this weekend.”

However, it’s believed that assistant coach de Marigny has given notice that he won’t be at the club next season.

A-League officials have also spoken to the Wanderers about Rudan not meeting his requirement as a head coach to front Tuesday’s post-match media conference, but are yet to confirm whether he or the club will be sanctioned.

Originally published as Wanderers coach Marko Rudan’s failure to answer for his team’s record loss further adds to his clouded future