25 Jul CLUB STATEMENT – MEN’S 1ST GRADE COACHING POSITION AND SQUAD UPDATE

Sydney Olympic Football Club have been unable to reach mutual agreement around a revised contract with Terry Palapanis in relation to the 1st Grade Coaching component of his role for the varied competition commencing in August. Club Technical Director Ante Juric will now assume the 1st Grade coaching role effective immediately.

Terry had commenced in the role of Men’s 1st Grade Coach and Senior Technical Director for the 2020 season which was suspended by Football NSW by COVID – 19 after Round 3 of the regular season. Terry will continue in the role of Senior Technical Director to support the preparation of the Senior program and will continue to report to the CEO and Club Board. The decision has meant the Club Technical Director and former Sydney Olympic Player and Hall of Fame member Ante Juric will assume the coaching role for the 1st grade team for the 11 round competition.

CEO John Boulous said;
”While disappointed we were unable to reach an agreement with Terry, for this revised competition around the 1st Grade Coaching component of his role, we are lucky to have a coach of Ante’s experience on staff at the Club and he is able to step into the role immediately to take the squad.”

Sydney Olympic FC, along with all National Premier League Clubs, were forced to take precautionary measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and offer revised contracts to players and staff to ensure their participation in the revised Competition is sustainable.

Players were offered a reduced salary for the 2020 season and were fully accepting of the rationale behind this revised offer to support the Club’s participation in the competition.

“We are very lucky that our players appreciate the financial impact from decreased funding and sponsorship on the Club due to COVID-19 . Our playing groups, men and women have all been willing to accept revised terms in their agreements to ensure we put the Club at the forefront of all decisions and are able to participate in the proposed competition”. Boulous said.

In squad news for the revised competition; we have lost Raul Beneit Romero who returned back to Spain while the competition was suspended and Anthony Bouzanis who decided to not continue with the Club. Returning to the Club is former Sydney FC defender Ben Van Muers who after signing with the Club in the off-season, accepted a professional contract offer in Hong Kong. Also returning is young attacker Alexander Lopez who left just prior to the season start for a trial opportunity in Uruguay.

The season reboot was announced at the beginning of July, recommencing in a revised format on the weekend of 1st and ‪2nd of August‬ and conclude in October. Played with no prize money, the season will allow clubs to work on player development and give players the opportunity to play football on a competitive stage. It is expected a draw will be released in the coming fortnight.

The squad has been training since Monday 29 June after it was confirmed a season would be forthcoming. Our first trial will be against Manly United at Cromer Park on Saturday 18 July at 5.30pm