Search for new coach under way
SYDNEY: Wellington Phoenix management insists there was no realistic way of retaining homesick head coach Mark Rudan and it has already taken big strides towards finding a replacement.
Rudan confirmed yesterday he will cut his successful stint at the club one year short to be closer to his Sydneybased family.
In his debut season as an ALeague coach, Rudan has transformed the previously struggling Phoenix into a team which will contest the finals series for the first time since 2015.
Wellington chief executive David Dome said the club explored a range of possibilities to keep hold of the 43yearold, in discussions that have lasted more than two months.
The club offered to let Rudan spend even more time in Sydney next season than he had during this year’s campaign and was also prepared to cover all relocation costs of shifting his family from Sydney.
A final decision was reached last week when the family concluded Rudan’s two teenage sons were entrenched in their secondary schooling and should not shift.
‘‘It was never about dollars for us in terms of not being able to pay Mark what he’s worth, or trying to get his family to come here,’’ Dome said.
‘‘We tried very hard to find something that was going to work for everybody but at the end of the day, family comes first for people.’’
Rudan, who is in Sydney but will hold a press conference in Wellington tomorrow, described the decision as the most difficult of his career.
‘‘I came here wanting a project I could sink my teeth into and really make a difference to our sport,’’ he said.
‘‘But as I’ve made mention previously, family is upmost of importance to me. I am a husband and a father first and a football coach second.’’
Rudan has been linked with a shift to the newly formed Western United franchise in Geelong, along with Adelaide United.
Dome said he understood Rudan had not committed to another ALeague club.
Dome said a shortlist of possible replacements for next season had been drawn up and discussions were under way as the club pursued a fifth head coach since Ernie Merrick’s premature departure in December 2016.
Melbourne City boss Warren Joyce has been linked with a shift to Wellington but Dome was giving nothing away.
‘‘What we learned with Mark and the difference since he came in is that we’re looking for someone who is passionate.
‘‘Mark brought a lot of drive and we’re looking for someone who gets that and what it means to be in charge of a New Zealand club in the ALeague.’’
Dome was not concerned that Rudan could take some of the best Phoenix playing talent with him across the Tasman.
Instead, he said the former defender was taking an active role in identifying the best players for the club to retain, with prolific striker Roy Krishna high on the priority list. — AAP
LONDON: Mohamed Salahscored a stunning goal as Liverpool beat Chelsea 20 yesterday to keep its nose in front of Manchester City in the race for the English Premier League title.
Champion City held top spot for a couple of hours after it won 31 at Crystal Palace, Raheem Sterling scoring twice.
But a Sadio Mane header and a brilliant strike from Salah gave Liverpool a vital home win over fourthplaced Chelsea.
The result restored
Liverpool’s twopoint lead at the top, although City has a game in hand.
‘‘It’s really big,’’ Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said.
‘‘It’s another big game we have won. We have to concentrate on ourselves, work hard on the training pitch and the focus is on the next game.
‘‘We are enjoying it and that’s the main thing.’’
With City winning at Palace earlier in the day, Liverpool knew it could not afford to slip up.
The home side dominated possession in the first half but Chelsea held firm in defence to keep it goalless at the break.
But two goals in three minutes turned the game in Liverpool’s favour.
First Mane headed Henderson’s cross into the net for the opener on 51 minutes before Salah rifled in an unstoppable shot from 25 metres to double their lead.
City avoided a potential banana skin as it won 31 at Palace, Sterling scoring the first two goals, before Gabriel Jesus added a late third.
‘‘We controlled the ball really well but one moment in the game and they are back in it,’’ Sterling said.
‘‘But we responded again and got the third goal.’’
‘‘We always knew coming here in the past that it’s a difficult place to come. We got two goals but knew we couldn’t switch off.
‘‘We kept pushing and kept making it difficult — glad to get the third goal. We knew we had to be on it from the first minute.’’
The England forward put the champion in front after 15 minutes but Palace, which won at City earlier in the season, held out for the rest of the half.
Sterling doubled the lead on 63 minutes but Luca Milivojevic gave Palace hope with a clever free kick nine minutes from time.
Palace had a couple of halfchances to threaten an equaliser but Jesus dashed any hopes of a comeback with the third, although replays suggested he was marginally offside.
‘‘This pressure is incredible,’’ City manager Pep Guardiola said of the title runin as the side bids to win every trophy possible this term.
‘‘We are fighting to be champions back to back. In two seasons we’ve got 83 points with five games left. We’ve won two titles [Community Shield and League Cup] and now it’s the FA Cup final.’’ — DPA