Perth Glory co-owner Tony Sage and Football Federation Australia (FFA) has strongly refuted claims by former Socceroo and Glory winger Stan Lazaridis that he has been summoned to a meeting with league boss Ben Buckley to discuss the West Australian club.
Perth Glory co-owner Tony Sage and Football Federation Australia (FFA) has strongly refuted claims by former Socceroo and Glory winger Stan Lazaridis that he has been summoned to a meeting with league boss Ben Buckley to discuss the West Australian club.
FFA Head of Public Affairs, Bonita Mersiades, said Lazaridis is one of a number of former Australian players invited to attend a briefing, to be held prior to November-s Football Hall of Fame lunch in Melbourne, to update them on developments in the game.
Not at any stage did the FFA ask Lazaridis to formally present his assessment on Perth Glory-s strategies on or off-field.
“This is a regular briefing FFA holds with former players about developments in the game and is not specific to Perth Glory or any other Hyundai A-League club,” Ms Mersiades said.
Mr Sage also set the record straight after Lazaridis claimed in the same media article that Perth Glory had asked him to take on a coaching role and to do so without payment.
“After Stan was released as a player we asked if he would be interested in a position on the club-s Board as he has a long history in the game,” Mr Sage said.
“It was never a coaching position, Stan in fact doesn-t have the necessary qualifications as yet to be a professional coach, and the position was only ever a part-time honorary type of role.
“I can-t think of any sporting club in this country where Board positions are paid. It doesn-t happen at the West Coast Eagles, it doesn-t happen at the Fremantle Dockers, and it doesn-t happen with any of the board members at Perth Glory,” Mr Sage said.
Glory owners and CEO Scott Gooch met with Mr Buckley last week as part of a scheduled visit to Perth and emerged from those discussions confident that the FFA would assist the club to achieve a level playing field with its eastern states rivals.
“Everyone at the Glory is working overtime, from the Board, the administration, coaching staff and players to ensure we have a long term successful club in Western Australia,” Mr Sage said.
