Melbourne City sack assistant coach Michael Valkanis as Manchester boss cracks whip

MELBOURNE City’s mass turnover of players and coaches has continued with assistant coach Michael Valkanis’ exit shrouded in mystery.

Melbourne City assistant coach Michael Valkanis has been sacked by the club

MELBOURNE City’s mass turnover of players and coaches has continued with assistant coach Mike Valkanis’ exit shrouded in mystery.

City claimed that Valkanis and the club agreed to mutually terminate his contract but the Herald Sun understands that the coach was sacked.

A routine trip for City’s highly-respected Manchester-based football chief Brian Marwood turned into a hectic week amid the fallout from the Tim Cahill-Warren Joyce standoff.

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Marwood conducted interviews with Cahill, the coaching staff and several senior players - which the club maintains was routine - but in the end it claimed the scalp of Valkanis.

His exit comes just seven months after being considered for the head position, which eventually went to Joyce.

Valkanis and Joyce were also at odds about City’s style, with the former keen to preach an attacking brand in contrast to Joyce’s pragmatic approach.

Michael Valkanis was Melbourne City interim coach last season.

The lack of chemistry and tension between Joyce and Valkanis has been evident this season, including last Friday’s 3-1 home loss to Perth Glory.

W-League and youth team coach Patrick Kisnorbo is stepping up into the assistant’s role this week, but the club wants to appoint a permanent assistant soon.

The latest events will heap pressure on City chief executive Scott Munn, one of the few remnants from the Melbourne Heart days on and off the field, as it continues an almost unprecedented turnover of players and coaches in the A-League.

Bruno Fornaroli is City’s longest serving player and extraordinarily he is the only current player that was contracted at City two years ago.

The turnover has been replicated in the coaching ranks with foundation player Clint Bolton and goalkeeper coach Joey Didulica among those leaving recently, while Joe Montemurro quietly stepped down from his assistant coaching role at the start of the season before accepting an offer to coach Arsenal’s women’s team.

“Melbourne City and Michael Valkanis have today agreed the mutual termination of his contract, effective immediately,’’ the City statement said.

“Valkanis joined Melbourne City in a June 2016 as senior assistant coach and was part of the coaching team that helped to win the FFA Cup in November 2016.

“In January 2017 he was appointed as interim head coach and later head coach, holding this role for the remainder of the 2016/17 season.

“We would like to thank Michael for his contribution to our club and wish him and his family all the very best.”

It continues a whirlwind start to the 2017-18 season for City, with Socceroos legend Cahill voicing his displeasure at his bit-part role.