Sydney FC will fight FFA to block Graham Arnold being hired as Socceroos coach

IF FFA are hoping to hire Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold to take over the Socceroos before the World Cup, they will have a serious job persuading Sky Blues chairman Scott Barlow.

Speculation swirls around Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold. (AAP Image/Daniel Munoz)

SYDNEY FC chairman Scott Barlow has signalled that the Sky Blues will fight any attempt by Football Federation Australia to persuade Graham Arnold to become Socceroos coach ahead of the World Cup.

Underlining Arnold’s status as a contracted coach until the end of next season, Barlow said he expected him to honour that contract despite FFA’s hunt for a successor to Ange Postecoglou.

As Sydney launched their kit and announced a major sponsor for the Asian Champions League campaign, Barlow said his relationship with Arnold was “built on trust” and that his head coach had promised to notify him of any approach from FFA.

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Understandably Barlow (second right) doesn’t want to lose Arnold. (Mark Evans)

Arnold has emerged as by some way the most credible local candidate for the role, with a broad panel of former Socceroos and FFA officials compiling a shortlist ahead of an appointment expected by mid-February.

The Sydney chairman insisted that the club had not prepared a position in the event of a formal approach from FFA, preferring to focus on the imminent ACL campaign that will see players of the ilk of Carlos Tevez playing against the Sky Blues.

“Graham is Sydney FC coach, and a contracted coach with our club,” said Barlow. “He’s doing a fantastic job and we expect him to stay with us.

“Graham’s said to me that if anything is to come up then I’d be the first person he’d speak to. I’ve got a long and very positive relationship with Graham, one that’s built on trust.

“I know when he says something like that to me then it’s the truth. I’ll rely on that, and whatever I read (in the media) goes in one ear and out the other.

“I’ve also made our position clear to the FFA - he’s a contracted coach and doing an excellent job.”

Sydney FC launch their kit for the Asian Champions League. (Phil Hillyard)

Sydney wrote to FFA two months ago to warn them off approaching Arnold, but Barlow insisted the club had not formalised a response in the event that the governing body formally requested permission to speak to Arnold about the vacancy.

“We haven’t, honestly,” he said. “We’re certainly not working away in the background looking at alternatives, that’s not the case at all.

“Our position (to FFA) would be that he’s a contracted coach. I’ve got a great relationship with Graham, built on being upfront with each other from day one.”

Barlow declined to comment on the specifics of Arnold’s contract, amid speculation it may contain a release clause to take up the national team job.

“”We expect him to honour that contract,” he said, “and he’s told me that I’ll be the first person he’ll come to if anything comes up. Beyond that we haven’t really thought any more.”

Sydney will kick of their ACL campaign in February against Tevez’s Shanghai Shenhua, Kashima Antlers and the winner of a play-off – likely to be Suwong Bluewings..

“We’re determined to make this the most successful ACL campaign we’ve ever had, and judging by our domestic form we don’t need to be concerned about any club that we come up against,” said Barlow.

Originally published as Sydney FC will fight FFA to block Graham Arnold being hired as Socceroos coach