Jets skipper Ruben Zadkovich has stipulated that off-field issues with owner Nathan Tinkler have not distracted the team’s focus from this Friday’s crucial Hyundai A-League clash in Perth.
Jets skipper Ruben Zadkovich has stipulated that off-field issues with owner Nathan Tinkler have not distracted the team’s focus from this Friday’s crucial Hyundai A-League clash in Perth.
Media reports indicated that the Jets might be in danger of losing the backing of the coal magnate with creditors, including the Australian Taxation Office, looking at winding up the Hunter Sports Group.
However, Zadkovich told the media in Perth on Thursday that the playing group is not concerned by the reports and is solely focused on Friday’s match.
“It is just business as usual – we just focus on the football and leave all the off-field stuff to them,” he said.
“We don’t know much about it. Nothing we do is going to change that. It is totally up to Hunter Sports Group. We are confident they are going to work it out.
“It is big business and it is obviously complicated and as a player you can’t really have any input into it. We just have to go out there and do our best and things will either work out or it won’t.
“I am not worried about it and it doesn’t really affect us too much.
“I don’t think the Newcastle Jets are in any danger at the moment. We just have to focus on our football and let the off-field drama sort itself out.
“We are here and we have been training hard and it doesn’t take as much toll as you think. We will just go out and play the best we can.”
On the field, however, Zadkovich admitted the Jets have been going through a form slump and would be facing a tough task to turn it around against the Glory, who have also come off the boil after a good start to the season.
“The last few weeks we have struggled a bit but it is not through lack of effort and Perth have been a bit the same,” he said.
“So I think it will be a scrappy match and we are prepared to battle hard and try to get the points.”
The Jets captain said it was difficult to isolate one key point as to why the Jets have failed to continue with their early season form but said the playing group was confident heading into every clash in the A-League.
“Obviously our defence hasn’t been great this season and the stats don’t lie, we know that is the something we will have to focus on and work on if we are going progress this season,” Zadkovich said.
“But it has been the small things. We have played well in patches and we know when we put it together we are a quality side and we have some quality young players and obviously some good experienced people like Emile Heskey – if we put it together for 90 minutes we know we can beat anyone.”
While expecting a tough battle with the Glory on Friday, Zadkovich dispelled any thoughts that the Perth side were too physical or bullies after last week’s heated clash with the Melbourne Heart.
“I agree with Fergie (Glory coach Ian Ferguson) – people are focusing on the wrong things – they should be focusing on the football,” he said.
“They (Perth) have some good players and good footballers that is more to the point than the so-called tactics they are talking about.
“They are a quality side (so) we are going to have to be at our best to beat them.”