Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson is adamant his team’s on the right track and has called on the players to put a difficult week behind them and focus their energies on knocking off league leader Central Coast on Friday night.
Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson is adamant his team’s on the right track and has called on the players to put a difficult week behind them and focus their energies on knocking off league leader Central Coast on Friday night.
The Glory have been under the spotlight since their 2-1 loss to Melbourne Heart saw them slump to eighth on the Hyundai A-League table last weekend.
The loss was enough for many of the 6458 people at nib Stadium to turn on owner Tony Sage as they vented their spleen at the mining magnate, while also abusing coach Ian Ferguson and booing the side.
The crowd abuse saw Sage tell the West Australian enough was enough and he’d be handing back the club’s license to Football Federation Australia (FFA) at the end of the season.
Sage has since stepped back from those comments somewhat and Ferguson believes his side has it in them to put the whole episode behind them and shock the in-form Mariners at nib Stadium.
“It’s got to be business as usual,” declared Ferguson. “We can’t be distracted over what’s been said.
“It’s been a sad week for the club that the coach gets booed, players get booed and the chairman gets abused, which is unacceptable.
“He’s a man that’s put his money where his mouth is and kept this club financially viable for the past five years, so that was a bit sad.
“But we’ve got to get on with it and look forward to the Mariners game.”
A forthright Ferguson also had a message for fans, saying that if they cannot support the team, then vent their anger at himself.
“Nobody likes to hear your name being chanted to get out the door,” declared Ferguson.
“(But) I believe we’re doing the right thing. We are going forward. I believe there’s been a lot of great things put in place. But the fans don’t see that, they’re more interested in results, and that’s what we need to do.
“I’d ask the fans to stick with us. It’s very hard for the players when they hear that sort of thing, you know booing and shouting ‘Fergie out’, and we are only two points outside of the top six.
“There’s a lot of football to be played, a lot of ups and downs. It’s early doors yet to vent that sort of frustrations.
“We’ve been unlucky a few times. I can’t keep using that as an excuse, but I really do believe I’m in the right direction. The boys have given us anything. I can’t fault them, (so) I’d ask them to support the team.
“I don’t like hearing chants with my name but if they want to vent their anger, then please vent it at me and not the team.”
On top of skipper Jacob Burns being suspended for the match after accruing five yellow cards for the season, the Glory could be without defender Todd Howarth, who has injured his groin.
However, Howarth could be replaced by former Melbourne Victory man Evan Berger, who could play his first game for the club on Friday night, while Adam Hughes is likely to take Berger’s place as a defensive midfielder.
