Arnold Signed To 2010
The Sunday Age
Sunday July 15, 2007
UNDER-FIRE coach Graham Arnold may be under immense pressure to keep his job, but Australian soccer chief Ben Buckley says whatever happens in the Asian Cup, Arnold will remain with the organisation until 2010.
Arnold's critics are sharpening their knives after Australia's dire performance so far, but Arnold has already been offered a new three-year deal. Most likely his role will involve taking charge of the Olyroos for the rest of this year's Olympic campaign, coaching the Socceroos on a game-by-game basis, and ultimately acting as assistant to a new head coach when the World Cup qualifiers kick off in June next year.When asked after Friday night's loss to Iraq whether Arnold expected the clamour for his departure to grow, he replied: "Probably, but I can't control that."Buckley made it clear yesterday Football Federation Australia would not be pressured into a knee-jerk reaction. "Graham is going to be with us until 2010, and now is not the time to add to the speculation about the coaching position."All our focus, all our energy, right now is on Monday night's game. We're still in with a chance to progress to the quarter-finals, a very real chance . . . Obviously everyone's disappointed with the results to date, you can understand Graham's disappointment, you can understand the players' disappointment, but I know everyone's working towards a successful outcome against Thailand."
© 2007 The Sunday Age