Adelaide United head coach Carl Veart says he wants to stay at the Reds after reports emerged the club are looking to hire a new coach for next season.
The 54-year-old, who has been in charge of the club since 2020, initially penned a new three-year contract extension in April 2023 that would see him tied to the Reds until the end of the 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
However when fronting the media at his pre-game press conference ahead of this weekend’s clash with Sydney FC, Veart tackled the speculation head-on, revealing he actually doesn’t have a deal in place for next season.
“Okay guys, first thing I just want to address those rumours that came out earlier in the week,” said Veart when fronting the media ahead of this Saturday’s huge game against Sydney FC.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
“I do not have a contract with the club next year and we’re in the space where we’re sort of talking at the moment. I want to stay at the club and that’s where it is at the moment.
“So look, full focus is on winning games, and that starts tomorrow night against Sydney FC, and really looking forward to the contest that we’ll have tomorrow night.
He went on to say: “Look, I’m comfortable where it sits at the moment. As I said, I don’t have a contract for next season and you know, there’s a few things to to work through, and we’re in the process of doing that.”
Asked if he felt as though he’d been put in an uncomfortable position following the emergence of the report carried by Network 10, Veart remained steadfast in his belief that the situation is just part and parcel of being involved within professional football.
“No, look, it’s fine. You know, it’s part of the game. All players, coaches, you know, they go through these times when they’re coming to the end of their contracts, and when it gets to the end of the season, at times, it can put a little bit of stress on players and that.
“But look, our focus on doing our jobs, going out there tomorrow night and getting the three points.”
The sixth-placed Reds head into the match on a six-game winless run having conceded 20 goals during that period and are just three points ahead of seventh-placed Sydney FC.
However, should they lose to the Sky Blues at Coopers Stadium then they will fall out of the top six given Sydney FC’s superior goal difference.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
“Look, our job is to play football, and that’s all the players need to focus on, is doing their jobs. Yes we’ve not played at the level where we want to be at the last few weeks, we’ve made some errors that have led to goals.
“We’ve got to keep our belief in ourselves, keep working hard and the boys have been working extremely hard the last few weeks, and they’ve got to keep doing that and turn this form around.
“It’s still in our hands. You know, we’ve had a good season up to this point, and we know if it’s still in our hands, and we win our football matches, we we play finals.”
MUST READ: How one night in 2016 led to the longest contract in A-Leagues history
Veart also shot down any suggestions that a possible new deal at the club was contingent on the Reds playing finals football this season.
“No, no, There’s never been any KPIs for me in my whole time here. I just keep doing my best. That’s all I can do.
“The same as what I asked from the players, is to do their best and so far we’ve been doing that.
“Yes, we haven’t got the results, but I can still see, you know, the players are working hard and doing their best to try and get the results for the club.”
He went on to say: “When you get to the last few games this season it sort of tightens up a lot more and the games become a little bit more important. And that’s no different tomorrow night.
WEEKEND PREVIEW: What you need to know for Round 25 of the Isuzu UTE A-League
“It’s a little bit more important than then the previous times we’ve met them this year, they’re a very high quality side, (with) some really high quality attacking players.
“They’re starting to fix their defensive issues that they had earlier in the season. You know, they’ve brought a few players in to help fix that.
“So look, it’s going to be a big test for the playing group, but I’m sure we can rise to that challenge and get the win tomorrow.”
