Rudan set to be a one-season wonder

Football

The coach who revived Wellington Phoenix will sensationally leave the club after just one season but his next destination remains unclear.

Mark Rudan has been hotly pursued by expansion club Western United on the back of his impressive work with Wellington, who are sitting fourth place on the A-League table and remain right in the hunt for a home playoff with just three games left in the regular season.

Although he has declined to comment specifically on the potential of leaving Wellington for an A-League rival, Rudan has openly stated that he cannot continue living apart from his family, who are currently based in Sydney, and that will be the major factor when his imminent announced by the club.

‘‘In hindsight if I knew it was going to be this hard, I wouldn’t have taken it,’’ Rudan told in January, and it appears his desire to be with his family has only grown stronger as the season has wore on.

Rudan has also publicly called on the club’s ownership group to raise the standards at the Phoenix, demanding more investment in order to build on the success of the 2018-19 season, with offering a marquee deal in attempt retain to joint-Golden Boot leader Roy Krishna and the creation of a centre of excellence high on his wishlist.

‘‘Do I want to vie for things every year? Yes. I’m pretty clear, I’m driven and I’m ambitious and they know what they are getting from me as well. I’ve made it pretty clear. Are discussions ongoing? Yes they are,’’ he said in February. resignation is

But it appears those demands have fallen on deaf ears, with his frustration at the lack of ambition shown by the club’s owners another key factor into his decision to walk.

While he has refused to comment publicly on his future in recent weeks, initially pointing back to stories on his family situation and his demands for more investment before declining to comment altogether, understands he has given the club his blessing to begin its search for a replacement, with Melbourne City’s Warren Joyce emerging as a surprising target.

A source said Rudan made his decision three weeks ago and has even provided his own recommendations for his potential successor.

Despite signing on for two years, the source revealed there was an eight-week notice out clause put in his contract by the Phoenix.

Phillip Rollo