Dukic labels Canberra FC 'embarrassing club'

JAMES BUCKLEY
28 Jul, 2010 12:00 AM

Sacked local soccer coach Stan Dukic has labelled Canberra FC an ''embarrassing club'', hitting out at the Deakin outfit following his axing on Monday night.
Dukic said he'd been unable to do his job properly, and felt president Marko Vrkic was too involved with the running of the first-grade team.

The alleged interference reached new height's in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Monaro, where Dukic claimed the committee selected the team and presented him with the match tactics he was to employ.

Vrkic yesterday denied the allegation, and said his commitee had never presented Dukic with a team list for the match.

Canberra FC is unbeaten this season, and sits at the top of the Capital Football Premier League after 13 rounds as it chases its ninth league title in 10 years.

In his first year as coach, Dukic felt he had the team on track to secure more success this season, but felt the issues behind the scenes threatened to derail the club's league campaign.

''I'm very embarrassed about it but that's what the club is, it's a pretty embarrassing club,'' Dukic said.

''What they did on Sunday was a joke.

''I stayed there just because of the players, I wanted to stick up for the players I didn't want to leave them in the lurch before the game. The players aren't happy.''

Dukic played with Canberra FC for 26 years, retiring in the late 90s before returning this season to take the first-team coaching reins.

''The club I knew before was crowds, committees of eight, nine, 10 people all coming to training, atmosphere and everything that doesn't happen any more,'' Dukic said.

''I tried to change all of these things, I tried to help them and that's what you get, a kick in the bum. You do it our way or no way, that's what they said.''

Sunday's draw was the club's third in five games, easily its worst patch of form this season.

The removal of Dukic was the first time in Vrkic's 11-year tenure as president he had dismissed a coach mid-season. Vrkic will take over as head coach but plans to find a permanent replacement before season's end.

He said sacking Dukic was in the best interest of continued success.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/dukic-labels-canberra-fc-embarrassing-club/1897234.aspx