Rudan implores FFA to think of fans and players

Western United coach Mark Rudan has called on the FFA to schedule all A-League matches after 6:30pm.

Western United forward Connor Pain looks dejected during the match against Newcastle Jets played in heatwave conditions Picture: Getty Images

Every A-League game should kick-off after 6.30pm. That’s the simple solution Western United coach Mark Rudan has offered to solve the league’s futile battle with Australia’s scorching summer. Rudan hailed the endeavours of both his side and Newcastle after they gallantly fought out a goalless draw at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.

“I thought it was incredible from both sets of players,” he said. “How they were able to withstand that heat and humidity and put on a show for their fans and for their respective clubs, I take my hat off to both sets of players.”

The contest was almost delayed after temperatures approached 40C in Broadmeadow, which limited the crowd to just 5458 people.

It also prompted officials to stop the game four times – twice in each half – for drinks breaks on the sideline.

Rudan believes the conditions robbed viewers of more entertainment.

“For me the two most important components in our game are the fans and the players,” he said.

“They want to see a spectacle. They want to see an entertaining game, a quick-paced game as well. I thought they were let down.”

The former Fox Sports commentator acknowledged the need to work with the needs of the broadcaster, who often base the schedule around viewers numbers. But Rudan is adamant that a serious conversation with powerbrokers is needed at the end of the season to deal with matches affected by heat.

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“Because it’s not just the two teams are involved today,” he said. “We’ve seen quite a number of games and number of teams in the league this year play in this kind of extreme heat.

“And it doesn’t make for good viewing. It really doesn’t. You’re putting the players’ welfare at risk as well. And I think that’s paramount in this.”

Rudan threw up a straightforward answer to the issue.

“I think every game should be played after, let’s say, 6.30 (pm)” he said. “But that’s just that’s just my point of view from a coach and someone that needs to protect their own football club and the players.”

United were barely in the fight against the Jets, who were unable to convert a whopping 27-6 advantage in shots on goal into three points.

But considering he was without marquee and captain Alessandro Diamanti, who is expected back next week, Rudan was satisfied with the result.

“If you look at the players that we started with and who we ended with, I was really proud of them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Socceroos attacker Chris Ikonomidis faces another stint on the sidelines after re-injuring his left knee in Saturday night’s 2-2 draw with Melbourne Victory.

Ikonomidis will undergo scans after lasting just 15 minutes in his A-League return.

The 24-year-old first injured his left knee on January 11 after copping a heavy tackle against Adelaide, forcing him to miss the next two matches. Ikonomidis was brought on in the 62nd minute against Victory on Saturday, but was forced off in the 77th minute after his knee buckled in innocuous fashion after passing the ball.

The star striker was despondent as he sat on the grass before hobbling off. Ikonomidis already had his left knee strapped, but coach Tony Popovic said the club was confident the speedster had fully recovered from the previous injury before giving him the green light to return.

“We’re not going to risk a player,” Popovic said.

“He hasn’t played for two, three weeks now. If there was any doubt in the player … he wouldn’t have played.

“It would have just been another game he misses out on. He came on because we all felt he was fine.

“We’ll see if that incident is related to his previous injury or not. It could be something different.”

AAP