Melbourne Victory tried to negotiate a deal with Football Federation Australia (FFA) that would allow Ange Postecoglou to return to coach the A-League club in between his Australia duties.
Victory chief executive Ian Robson dismissed claims that compensation was the sole point of contention between the club and FFA during talks about Postecoglou’s five-year appointment to the national role.
“It would be fair to say that compensation was certainly a component of our discussions with the FFA, but it would be wrong (to say) that that was the only element in which we discussed things,” he told ABC Grandstand radio.
“Two games into the season, there’s a Socceroos friendly confirmed against Costa Rica in a few weeks’ time and then they’ve got a break until March.
“We were trying to explore any possible hybrid scenarios that could see Ange stay with us and go off and do some Australian duties.
“A whole range of things were explored. It was just the reality of the circumstance that we didn’t have a lot of time to explore, contemplate and reflect on those things.”
Despite failing to secure any form of compensation, Robson said the club’s decision to release Postecoglou was one of “dignity, decency and honour”.
Source: AAP
