Football Confidential: Aussie Milos Ninkovic, Tim Cahill training with Sydney FC, Socceroos job hunt
TIM Cahill remains on the hunt for a new club after sensationally leaving Melbourne City and conspiracy theorists have been sent in to meltdown after the Socceroos star was seen training with Sydney FC.
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EVERYONE knows of Milos Ninkovic, the Johnny Warren medallist and architect of Sydney FC’s title win … but what about Aussie Milo?
Ninkovic has submitted an application for permanent residency, with the help of his club, as a precursor to seeking citizenship and the possibility of staying in Australia long term.
That’s why Sydney coach Graham Arnold has been making jokes at training this week about Ninkovic playing for Australia, but sadly that’s a non-starter because Ninkovic of course played for Serbia.
Nor will it make any difference (for now) to his visa status in the A-League or Asian Champions League – the earliest he could apply for Australian citizenship would be July 2019.
But the fact Ninkovic has no intention of heading off overseas any time soon suggests this may not be the last season he’s seen in Sydney colours.
TIMMY AT SYDNEY FC
PRESUMABLY the next Socceroos coach would love to have Tim Cahill fit and firing ahead of the World Cup – which is why conspiracy theorists will have a field day with the news that Cahill has been training with Sydney FC to keep fit as he searches for a new club in the wake of his exit from Melbourne City.
But Graham Arnold insists he’s just doing Cahill a favour, even though he is the local favourite to get the national team job.
We hear Arnold almost dropped it into his pre-match press conference before last week’s game against City but decided against it.
SOCCEROOS JOB HUNT
MEANWHILE speculation about Arnold’s future continues unabated, as Football Federation Australia continues to work through candidates for the vacant Socceroos job.
Amid all the speculation about possible break clauses in Arnold’s contract, we can reveal that he does have one, and it’s not related to a specific job or situation.
As is quite common in A-League coaching contracts, both Sydney and Arnold have the right to terminate the deal with a few months’ notice. That’s where things get interesting, as it’s now three days less than three months until the Socceroos come into camp for their next game in March.
Time is marching on for David Gallop and co.
UNITED STATES OF WHAT?
SEVERAL Aussies are doing well in the US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), but others are discovering that the rules of the league can be ludicrously restrictive.
Unbelievably, when a player registers with a club, that registration continues even after their contract has expired – and a player can’t join another US club until their first side agrees to release or trade them.
Matildas striker Caitlin foord, for instance, is still registered with Sky Blue FC even though she hasn’t played for the club since 2015. We hear other clubs who have approached Sky Blue have been asked to nominate a player to trade, and NWSL officials say there’s nothing they can do.
It seems like the ultimate restraint of trade, and has caught the attention of the players’ union movement.
WANDERERS WORRIES
JOSEP Gombau was all smiles this week after his side won 2-0 at the Mariners, but don’t assume everything is all sweetness and light at the Wanderers.
More than one player has told Gombau they don’t believe in his tactics, which they say don’t suit the players and the club. Expect more changes on the teamsheet this week, as Gombau asserts his authority.