Western Sydney Wanderers sack coach after players fight, miss finals
After a tense week involving player in-fighting and a failure to make the finals, the Western Sydney Wanderers have sacked coach Josep Gombau.
The Spaniard was just six months into his contracted three-year tenure with the club which he felt was the "hardest" he had ever worked with.
The move comes after a miserable A-League season for the strained team, winning just eight of their 27 matches.
Gombau's job was reportedly dependent on a top-six spot which the team had a chance to nab last weekend, but a win to Adelaide United effectively ended their season and his job.
The ABC has been told that tensions flared in the lead-up to the match, with striker Brendon Santalab involved in a fight with another player at training.
Neither player was injured.
Following the incident, it is understood Gombau told the playing group they were the hardest team he had ever had to manage, and he was unsure if he wanted to be in the job next year.
Midfielder Roly Bonevacia was involved in a recent heated argument with Gombau, and defender Robbie Cornwtraithe left earlier this year due to differences.
Morale within the playing group has been low for months and they expected Gombau to be moved on.
Players had no confidence in his coaching ability and style the ABC understands, and players felt if former coach Tony Popovic stayed on, the season's outcome would have been completely different.
The club released a statement this morning announcing the decision to part ways with Gombau and the playing group were also told of the news in a meeting today.
"Following a review of the season the decision has been made to appoint a new head coach for the 2018/19 season and beyond," a statement from the Wanderers said.
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