Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka admits he’s yet to decide whether to accept the offer of a second season at the club.
The Czech national has guided the Sky Blues into second spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder after 20 rounds of the regular season, leading vice-chairman Scott Barlow to publicly state the board’s intention to retain his services beyond the current campaign.
But the softly-spoken mentor, whose impressive resume includes two stints with European giant Sparta Prague, revealed he will seek clarification on the future direction of the club before taking up the option of a second year in Sydney.
“In this moment I am close to making a decision,” Lavicka said on Tuesday.
“I had a talk with the board and I’ll make the final decision this month. I am happy here really. As I told before I like the job in Sydney FC, I like living here in Sydney and my family (likes it) as well.”
“For now I’m focusing on these two games (against Central Coast and Adelaide United) and I’ll make a decision after.”
“We will speak with the board regarding the view for next season, the player squad, the coaching staff squad, everything I (will) compare. But as I said I’m close to continuing here but I would like to speak with the board again before (making) my final decision.”
Skipper Steve Corica, who will play his 100th Hyundai A-League encounter for the club on Wednesday night, endorsed Lavicka as the man to lead the former glamour club into the future.
“Obviously we hope he does stay because obviously the team as it is at the moment we respond to him and he treats us really well, so obviously we want him to stay and do his best while he’s here,” Corica said.
“Things are going along nicely, everyone’s happy, he’s got the team working well and we’re playing well and getting result so that’s the main thing.”
Asked Lavicka’s strengths as a mentor, the evergreen 36-year-old said: “He brings professionalism to the club, he’s big on discipline and I think that shows in the way we play. And that willingness to win, it’s important to show the players that he wants to win as well and the players are responding to that.”
Meanwhile, Corica played down the significance of his own milestone match against bitter rivals the Mariners at the Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday night.
But the captain stressed the importance of earning a win which would see his men draw level with competition leaders Melbourne Victory at the top of the Hyundai A-League ladder.
“It’s a great feeling obviously, coming back from overseas back to Sydney and to play in my 100th game is obviously nice,” Corica said.
“It’d be more important though to get three points coming up towards Christmas … two home games, it’s very important to pick up maximum points from both of them really.”
“The most important thing for me is obviously the three points, 100 games is great but I’d love to get the three points on Wednesday night and again on Sunday.”
Key defender Simon Colosimo is almost certain to be rushed into the starting side for the midweek clash at the expense of Sebastian Ryall, while injured striker John Aloisi has also been named in an extended 17-man squad but appears unlikely to play.
“I think he won’t be right for Wednesday night but he should be right for the Sunday game,” Corica said of Aloisi.
