I’m sorry, Rudan tells Phoenix fans
It dawned on Mark Rudan that he would likely have to quit his role as Wellington Phoenix coach when his family returned home to Sydney after Christmas.
Five days after his departure was revealed by the media and two days after it was confirmed by the club, Rudan fronted yesterday to address the reasons for his exit. He was extremely apologetic, saying sorry to Phoenix supporters on multiple occasions throughout a solemn 50 minute press conference that took place in the same corporate box at Westpac Stadium where he was unveiled as head coach on May 29 last year.
He stressed his decision to quit halfway through a two-year deal was purely for family reasons. He said living by himself in New Zealand was causing a strain on his relationship his wife and two children.
Although Rudan wanted to continue to build on the project he started at the Phoenix, declaring his initial intention was to stay beyond his two-year deal, the Australian was not willing to put the football club before his family.
‘‘My intentions were good. It was to try and convince them to stay. I love this place. If it was about me then I’m here and you’ve got me long-term. The people have embraced me, the club has, there’s fantastic people not just in Wellington but New Zealand,’’ Rudan said.
‘‘It wasn’t my intention to lead anyone on. I was just very confused what to do and what the best thing was. But it got to a point where it puts a strain on your relationship, it really does. I’m tied here but my family is over there and we had some tough, heated discussions about it all.
‘‘I go home and I’m on my own. I don’t go out. Some of you might be at bars but you won’t see me out because I’m home, and you’re home alone.
‘‘You can Whatsapp, Facetime or Skype as much as you want but there are moments, and some of you will understand and some of you won’t and I understand that, but there are moments when a dad has got to be a dad and be there and put his arm around his kids.
‘‘He’s got to be there and I’ve missed that, and I don’t want to miss that again.’’
Although he informed his players in the middle of February that there was a possibility that he may not see out the final year of his contract, it was only Friday, the same day as their 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar, when stories broke confirming his exit, that he sat them down and told them that a final decision had been made.
With their place in the playoffs now guaranteed he also told them it was important to move on quickly and begin preparing for their final two regular season games, beginning with Melbourne City on Sunday, and then the finals, with the A-league championship still within reach.
‘‘You’ve got Brisbane who beat us whose coach won’t be there next season, Adelaide United as well. That’s two coaches who won’t be there next year who we played against, so I look at that as an example that it shouldn’t matter because they are professionals and so am I. I have a job to do. I was brought in to do a job and it’s not done yet.’’
Rudan’s exit now opens the door for a widely speculated move to expansion club Western United. While the 43-year-old indicated that he had not signed a contract with any other club and would not do so until his Phoenix commitments are complete, he was open in his desire to continue coaching in the A-league.