A-League: Kurz and Adelaide United to part ways

Adelaide coach Marco Kurz says a failure to agree on the way forward is the reason he won’t have his contract renewed.

Marco Kurz says he and Adelaide United are no longer on the same wave

Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz says a failure to agree on the way forward is the reason he won’t have his contract renewed for next season.

In what could be considered a serious blow to the club’s playoff hopes, Reds chairman Piet van der Pol announced the club had informed Kurz it wants to go in a different direction next season.

Former Socceroo John Aloisi, who stepped down as coach of Brisbane Roar late last year, could emerge as favourite to take the reins, while former Adelaide City greats Tony Vidmar and Damian Mori also loom as serious possibilities.

The decision comes as no surprise after Kurtz revealed last week he had had no contact for three weeks with van der Pol regarding his future.

The German, in his second season with the club, has done a good job, taking the Reds to an FFA Cup win as well as the A-League finals last season. They are well placed to make the six again this season.

Just how the players will react remains to be seen.

Van der Pol released a statement after meeting Kurz yesterday: “After meeting with Marco, I informed him of our decision not to extend his contact beyond this season. As a club, we are grateful for Marco’s hard work and for helping to guide us to our second FFA Cup trophy. Marco has our full support for the remaining games this season as we push to secure a home final and look to go as far as we can in the finals.”

Kurz said he realised he and van der Pol were not on the same wave: “During my meeting with Piet I realised quickly that we do not have a common vision for the future of Adelaide United.

“Our goals are very different and therefore a renewal of my contract does not make sense.”

Meanwhile, Perth Glory have re-signed quality fullback Jason Davidson and have promised more good news as the club continues to build on its outstanding season.

All but assured of their first trophy in the A-League era, the Premiers Plate, the Glory have started to retain the bulk of the squad that has taken them to a nine-point lead at the top of the table with five rounds left in the regular season.

Earlier this month star striker Andy Keogh extended his contract until next season. Now Davidson has put pen to paper for another year in a deal that has thwarted new A-League franchise Western United’s bid to lure him home to Victoria.

Western United, who will join the competition next season, had reportedly made Davidson a priority target. Davidson is the son of former Socceroo great Alan and was born in Melbourne, which made a switch a real possibility at one stage.

But, in deciding to stick to Perth the 27-year-old, who spent nine years in Europe before joining Glory at the start of the season, said he wanted “to be part of something special”.

“The success the club is striving for is something I want to help achieve. I feel fortunate to be part of a team that is strong on and off the field,” he said.

“It is great to have come back to play in Australia and hit the ground running with a team that is playing so well.”

The club has hinted “further major player announcements” will soon be made.