Dwight Yorke departs from Macarthur FC ahead of rumoured move to Sky Blues

Dwight Yorke and Macarthur FC have parted ways after a brutal dressing room sledge to players saw the club chairman intervene.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Dwight Yorke head coach of Macarthur FC looks on during an Australia Cup Final media opportunity at CommBank Stadium on September 30, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Former treble-winning Manchester United star Dwight Yorke has parted ways with A-League Men’s outfit Macarthur FC after a scathing post-game address in which he described the Australia Cup winners as a “pub team”.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that the dressing room spray, reminiscent of the infamous “hairdryer” treatments Yorke copped in his own playing days under Sir Alex Ferguson, was the catalyst for a “mutual” parting of ways after just seven months as head coach.

The announcement comes less than a day after a 1-0 loss to Adelaide United on Friday, the Bulls’ sixth loss from 13 matches this season.

Watch the world’s best footballers every week with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. LIVE coverage from Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Carabao Cup, EFL & SPFL. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Sources who spoke to the Herald on the condition of anonymity, said the speech was delivered to the entire travelling squad, with CEO Sam Krslovic and chairman Gino Marra also present.

Individual players were said to have been singled out, with Yorke reportedly referencing what he sees as a “substandard culture” across multiple levels of the game in Australia.

Chairman Marra was said to have intervened at one point during the spray, as Yorke set his sights on the levels of professionalism within the playing group, as well as in Australian football broadly.

The club released a statement on Saturday night confirming a contract termination had been reached to allow Yorke to “pursue other opportunities”.

Macarthur FC coach Dwight Yorke (left) routinely copped the infamous ‘hairdryer’ treatments from legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Picture: Supplied

Approached by media on Sunday, Marra declined to comment.

“We won’t be commenting on the circumstances of the mutual agreement reached between the club and Dwight Yorke on Saturday,” he said.

“I would like to thank Dwight Yorke and his assistant Russell Latapy for their contribution towards our club, and in particularly, Dwight leading Macarthur to our first silverware in our 2022 Australia Cup triumph.”

Yorke meanwhile released a statement thanking club hierarchy while declaring: “I leave the football club with a great team that will continue to challenge for more silverware.”

Yorke’s departure has sparked rampant speculation across the league that the Trinidadian will join league heavyweights Sydney FC, where manager Steve Corica is under significant scrutiny, languishing in tenth on the ladder.

"I'm sure if we go to twitter now it will be going a frenzy with rumours" - @djmcbreen@ScottyMcD83 thinks Dwight Yorke will be staying in the Isuzu Ute A-League 🤔#BRIvMCY is about to kick off live on Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/IwWjIJp2KN

— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) January 21, 2023

Speaking on the free-to-air broadcast of Saturday’s match between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City, former Socceroo Scott McDonald said “he doesn’t leave if he doesn’t have another job.”

Corica and Yorke were teammates in the Sydney FC side that won the inaugural A-League title in 2006.

- with NCA Newswire