Van Egmond reveals blueprint for Wanderers revival
George Clarke |
Gary van Egmond insists Western Sydney’s underperforming A-League Men stars can still save their season after becoming the latest coach to board the club’s managerial carousel.
Van Egmond will lead the bottom-placed Wanderers until the end of the current season and attempt to steer the club away from their first wooden spoon when he takes charge of Sunday’s home game against Perth.
The 60-year-old, who was last a head coach at ALM level with Newcastle over a decade ago, was approached by Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer after the sacking of Alen Stajcic on Tuesday.
Despite boasting an attacking frontline that includes Socceroos forward Brandon Borrello, All Whites veteran Kosta Barbarouses and Alou Kuol, they have mustered just 10 goals through their opening 13 games.
“Just because they’re the so-called names you can’t look at it (the squad) and think you’re going to get a result,” van Egmond said.
“You have to work hard and I’m looking forward to the back end of the season and seeing what we can do with the group.
“There’s some very talented players and some very talented up-and-coming players and we’ll be working very hard to achieve (a top-six finish).
“It’s not about working hard for me, it’s about the supporters and the club.
“Coaches facilitate an environment and we’re there to ensure that environment is what it needs to be. Every player has an opportunity to play.”
Van Egmond would not say if he wanted the job beyond this season as he gets set to become their seventh coach in nine years.
The club’s rotating cast of managers and lack of direction has infuriated the Wanderers’ diminishing fanbase – less than 5500 turned up for last week’s loss to the Jets – who have pointed the finger at the club’s hierarchy.
In a week in which the club was forced to part ways with Stajcic, Wanderers bosses have gone to ground and have not explained why it was the right to move to sack the former Matildas coach just 13 games into a two-year extension.
Lederer has yet to offer a roadmap out of the club’s continuous boom and bust cycle since Tony Popovic’s exit in 2017. The Wanderers have made finals in just two of the following eight seasons.
Chief executive Scott Hudson, who was happy to put himself front and centre when the club signed Spanish star Juan Mata last season, has also been missing in action and not returned repeated requests for comment from AAP.
Hudson has now overseen big extensions for Stajcic and his predecessor Marko Rudan, only for both to not see out the full terms of their deals.
The club has at least been busy in the transfer market, announcing on Friday the capture of former Southampton winger Ryan Fraser until the end of this season.
Van Egmond said Fraser was “definitely in contention” to face the Glory and did not rule out further movement in January.
“I will talk to the chairman and the CEO and the board and see which direction that goes,” van Egmond said.
“But right now at this moment, we’re glad that Ryan has been able to join the club.”
AAP
