aL3n
November 7th, 2006, 03:38 AM
Budget FC closes door on Benito
November 07, 2006
ANOTHER piece of bling was yanked from Sydney FC last night as negotiations with Benito Carbone collapsed and the hunt for a marquee player was called off until next season.
Chief executive George Perry also admitted a guest player was now off the agenda as the club strapped itself into a financial straitjacket, leaving coach Terry Butcher to rely on a hardcore of talent to successfully defend the A-League crown.
Despite promises from Carbone to return for a near pittance to play for the team he made three guest appearances for, Perry shut the door on the Italian, saying: "We are just too far apart and there will be no further talks because of the size of the gap.
"We did want him back and he wanted to come back but it's not been possible to make it happen."
Perry claims the club that lost $4 million in its first season has not forsaken the marquee player concept in the pursuit of fiscal responsibility.
But he admitted: "In the short-term, we're looking to the players we have. With the season so far advanced it's unlikely we will recruit a marquee player or a guest player.
"The nature of the draw is such that in January we have only one home game in the last four (before the playoffs), so a guest player would not necessarily be advantageous to us.
"We have not lost our desire to attract and sign big names but at the same time we have to be responsible about it.
"We realise the importance of having a marquee tag attached to a player both on the field and off and that remains the club policy."
Sydney FC is hoping the comeback from injury this Friday of inspirational midfielder Steve Corica will mark a cavalry charge of returning talent.
Wideman David Carney is chasing a place on the bench after nine weeks out following a shoulder reconstruction, while midfielder Mark Milligan (hamstring) is only a week away.
Hardman Terry McFlynn (hamstring) is also close and defender Jacob Timpano (groin) is two weeks off.
"The players we have left are top quality and with our injury situation beginning to clear we're optimistic we can get a run of results together," added Perry.
Sydney plays the New Zealand Knights, Adelaide and Queensland in successive Aussie Stadium dates, with Perry adding: "These are games we're hopeful of picking up maximum points from. The beauty of the league is that a couple of wins could turn our season around."
Carney agreed, adding: "We're confident we'll have a big second half of the season. We've just got to get on with it now, forget about marquee players and make things happen ourselves. We haven't won in five games but the self-belief is there."
Sydney is just two points behind the Roar with Adelaide five points in front in second place.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20710852-5000940,00.html
November 07, 2006
ANOTHER piece of bling was yanked from Sydney FC last night as negotiations with Benito Carbone collapsed and the hunt for a marquee player was called off until next season.
Chief executive George Perry also admitted a guest player was now off the agenda as the club strapped itself into a financial straitjacket, leaving coach Terry Butcher to rely on a hardcore of talent to successfully defend the A-League crown.
Despite promises from Carbone to return for a near pittance to play for the team he made three guest appearances for, Perry shut the door on the Italian, saying: "We are just too far apart and there will be no further talks because of the size of the gap.
"We did want him back and he wanted to come back but it's not been possible to make it happen."
Perry claims the club that lost $4 million in its first season has not forsaken the marquee player concept in the pursuit of fiscal responsibility.
But he admitted: "In the short-term, we're looking to the players we have. With the season so far advanced it's unlikely we will recruit a marquee player or a guest player.
"The nature of the draw is such that in January we have only one home game in the last four (before the playoffs), so a guest player would not necessarily be advantageous to us.
"We have not lost our desire to attract and sign big names but at the same time we have to be responsible about it.
"We realise the importance of having a marquee tag attached to a player both on the field and off and that remains the club policy."
Sydney FC is hoping the comeback from injury this Friday of inspirational midfielder Steve Corica will mark a cavalry charge of returning talent.
Wideman David Carney is chasing a place on the bench after nine weeks out following a shoulder reconstruction, while midfielder Mark Milligan (hamstring) is only a week away.
Hardman Terry McFlynn (hamstring) is also close and defender Jacob Timpano (groin) is two weeks off.
"The players we have left are top quality and with our injury situation beginning to clear we're optimistic we can get a run of results together," added Perry.
Sydney plays the New Zealand Knights, Adelaide and Queensland in successive Aussie Stadium dates, with Perry adding: "These are games we're hopeful of picking up maximum points from. The beauty of the league is that a couple of wins could turn our season around."
Carney agreed, adding: "We're confident we'll have a big second half of the season. We've just got to get on with it now, forget about marquee players and make things happen ourselves. We haven't won in five games but the self-belief is there."
Sydney is just two points behind the Roar with Adelaide five points in front in second place.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20710852-5000940,00.html