Adelaide United coach Carl Veart is fighting for his job as the Reds seek form turnaround

Carl Veart’s coaching future at Adelaide United is clouded, but a rival who looms as a likely target for the Reds, has lauded the job that the besieged mentor has done at the South Australian club.

Embattled Adelaide United coach Carl Veart has found an ally in his Western United counterpart John Aloisi, who looms as a potential target for the Reds next season.

Veart’s contract expires at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, and he’s unlikely to be offered a new deal, with Adelaide’s Dutch technical director Ernest Faber keen to make a coaching change following the club’s recent poor run of form.

The Reds have won only one of their past nine games, and will drop out of the top six if they lose to Sydney FC at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.

In contrast, Socceroos great Aloisi is a man in demand on the back of second-placed Western United’s memorable 2024-25 campaign.

Aloisi’s men can maintain their chase of competition leaders Auckland FC with a win over cellar dwellers Perth Glory at Ironbark Fields on Saturday night.

Off-contract at the end of the season, Aloisi has reportedly been approached by Football Australia about his interest in coaching the Matildas.

And should, as expected, Veart be shown the door by Adelaide, South Australian product Aloisi is likely to be in the sights of the Reds.

Western United coach John Aloisi is an man in demand. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

However, Aloisi has leapt to the defence of Veart, who since taking charge of Adelaide in 2020 has led the Reds to three finals series and has developed a host of young players – including Nestory Irankunda – which has resulted in the club making millions of dollars in transfer fees.

“Carl’s done a great job there,” Aloisi said.

“I don’t even know why there’s even talk about them getting rid of Carl or Carl leaving.

“There’s still five games left. Carl (and Adelaide) could end up finishing second.

“Everyone goes off the last results, but what he’s done over the six years he’s been there has been incredible.”

As for being linked with the Matildas coaching job, Aloisi said it was “exciting” to be “associated” with “such a big role”.

“There’s always going to be speculation. I’m not going to go too much into it,” he said.

“My contract’s up, there are jobs available, there are jobs around, so I’m sure that there will be people thinking that I might be right for certain jobs, but at the moment my full focus is on what I’m doing here with Western United.

“We’ve got five games to go, an important game (on Saturday) and that’s all my focus is on at the moment.”

Adelaide United coach Carl Veart is fighting to save his job. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Veart’s focus is on beating Sydney rather than if he will still have a job next season.

“I don’t have a contract for next season, and there are a few things to work through, and we’re in the process of doing that,” the ex-Socceroo said.

“I want to stay at the club. It’s part of the game. All players and coaches go through these times when they’re coming to the end of their contracts, and when it gets to the end of the season, it can put a little bit of stress on players, but our focus is on doing our jobs, going out there (against Sydney FC) and getting the three points.”

Veart was proud to have given opportunities to a host of South Australian talent during his tenure.

“We’ve changed a lot of the culture that was at the club before, getting it back to how it was set up,” he said.

“I’ve played a big part in that and introduced a lot of young South Australian players, and that’s something that I hope stays forever with the club.

“I’ll just keep doing my best. That’s all I can do.”

Originally published as Adelaide United coach Carl Veart is fighting for his job as the Reds seek form turnaround