Could Graham Arnold be in line to replace Farina?
Frank Farina was finally sacked by Sydney FC, according to a club press release on Wednesday. Farina nearly faced the axe on several occasions during the 2013/14 season but the club held out long enough for the Sky Blues to be eliminated from the finals in Melbourne over the weekend.
Sydney chairman Scott Barlow said a few nice things about Farina in the press release:
"Frank joined us as coach in a difficult period last season and has always given his absolute dedication and commitment to the club. Frank has shown great integrity and resolve in what has been often challenging circumstances this year. I would like to pay tribute to Frank for his professionalism and wish him well for the future."
With the expected departure of Alessandro Del Piero and a new manager joining the club in the offseason, big changes are afoot at the Allianz Stadium. The emergence of Western Sydney Wanderers over the past two years, while not at all Farina's fault, have highlighted just how far down the pecking order the Sky Blues have slipped.
Meanwhile, rumors are rampant that Graham Arnold, who was recently relieved of his duties at J-League side Vegalta Sendai, is set to return to the A-League. While Perth Glory hired Kenny Lowe on a permanent basis, reportedly after Arnold turned them down, the conventional wisdom is that Sydney will make a run at the former Central Coast Mariners manager.
Farina was the fourth manager to be sacked or relieved since the 2013/14 season began while Arnold and Ange Postecoglou departed of their own volition.