Perth Glory season 2006-07
Encyclopedia
The Perth Glory
finished 7th in the 2006-07 A-League competition
making them the lowest-ranked Australia
n team in the A-League
. The pre-season expectaions of the club was to achieve a higher ladder finish than their 5th place finish in the first A-League
season under Steve McMahon
.
of ownership and management of Perth Glory. David Rodwell, Paul Afkos
, David Schrandt, Tom Galopoulos and World Sports Group had all been linked to possible takeovers of Perth Glory. Argentine
legend Gabriel Batistuta
, who currently resides in Perth
, had been linked to the local consortium headed by Tom Galopoulos. Unfortunately for the club, the FFA
decided that the Galopoulos bid was not financially sound, and the World Sports Group bid was withdrawn. The major sticking point appeared to be Nick Tana
's company, Allia Holdings, retaining management of Members Equity Stadium
.
In 2006 The West Australian
newspaper reported that Tony Sage (a mining magnate) was leading a group that included Brett McKeon and John Spence in discussions with the FFA
. However, no deal was made before the end of the 2005-06 season.
After a significant amount of bad publicity, good news finally arrived. Firstly, Australia
n international Stan Lazaridis
signed a 2 year deal on 5 July 2006 after a free transfer from Birmingham City F.C.
. This was quickly followed by the appointment of Ron Smith
as head coach and Michelle Phillips as CEO on 26 July 2006. Other signings included Young Socceroos goalkeeper Aleks Vrteski
, Jeremy Christie
from the New Zealand Knights, former Stockport
player Mark Robertson
and Leo Bertos
from Conference North
team Worksop Town F.C.
. Unfortunately, star youth player Nick Ward did not honour his two year contract and defied the advice of the FFA
and left for QPR
in England
.
>
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
finished 7th in the 2006-07 A-League competition
A-League 2006-07
The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
making them the lowest-ranked Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n team in the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
. The pre-season expectaions of the club was to achieve a higher ladder finish than their 5th place finish in the first A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
season under Steve McMahon
Steve McMahon
Stephen Joseph McMahon is an English former football midfielder who most notably played for Liverpool in the late 1980s...
.
Under FFA Control, lack of progress
On 27 March 2006, the Football Federation of Australia undertook to relieve owner Nick TanaNick Tana
Nick Tana is the former chairman of the Australian football club Perth Glory. He had been the chairman and the majority shareholder of Perth Glory from the club’s inception in 1995 until 2006....
of ownership and management of Perth Glory. David Rodwell, Paul Afkos
Paul Afkos
Paul Afkos OAM is an Australian businessman, former football administrator and political aspirant. He is father of former footballer James Afkos.- Perth Glory :...
, David Schrandt, Tom Galopoulos and World Sports Group had all been linked to possible takeovers of Perth Glory. Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
legend Gabriel Batistuta
Gabriel Batistuta
Gabriel Omar Batistuta , nicknamed Batigol, is a former professional footballer. The prolific Argentine striker played most of his club football at Fiorentina in Italy, and he is the tenth top scorer of all-time in the Italian Serie A league, with 184 goals in 318 matches...
, who currently resides in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, had been linked to the local consortium headed by Tom Galopoulos. Unfortunately for the club, the FFA
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
decided that the Galopoulos bid was not financially sound, and the World Sports Group bid was withdrawn. The major sticking point appeared to be Nick Tana
Nick Tana
Nick Tana is the former chairman of the Australian football club Perth Glory. He had been the chairman and the majority shareholder of Perth Glory from the club’s inception in 1995 until 2006....
's company, Allia Holdings, retaining management of Members Equity Stadium
Members Equity Stadium
Perth Oval, known by its sponsored name nib Stadium since July 2010, is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. It has been the home of A-League club Perth Glory since 1996 and has housed the administrative facilities of the Western Australia Rugby League since 2003...
.
In 2006 The West Australian
The West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
newspaper reported that Tony Sage (a mining magnate) was leading a group that included Brett McKeon and John Spence in discussions with the FFA
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
. However, no deal was made before the end of the 2005-06 season.
After a significant amount of bad publicity, good news finally arrived. Firstly, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n international Stan Lazaridis
Stan Lazaridis
Stanley "Stan" Lazaridis is a former football player. He was predominantly a left winger though he had been known to perform at left-back...
signed a 2 year deal on 5 July 2006 after a free transfer from Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. This was quickly followed by the appointment of Ron Smith
Ron Smith (football coach)
Ronald "Ron" Smith is an Australian football coach, who currently works as Technical Director of Sydney Olympic.-Playing career:...
as head coach and Michelle Phillips as CEO on 26 July 2006. Other signings included Young Socceroos goalkeeper Aleks Vrteski
Aleks Vrteski
Aleksandar Vrteski is a football goalkeeper who plays for Solo FC in Liga Primer Indonesia.-Club career:...
, Jeremy Christie
Jeremy Christie
Jeremy Christie is a New Zealand international footballer currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League.Christie can play in central midfield or as a defender...
from the New Zealand Knights, former Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
player Mark Robertson
Mark Robertson
Mark Robertson is a former football player who earned one Socceroo caps in 2001.-Club career:...
and Leo Bertos
Leo Bertos
Leonida Christos "Leo" Bertos is a New Zealand association football player who plays as an attacking midfielder or right winger for New Zealand-based A-League team Wellington Phoenix and has represented the New Zealand national football team.-Early life:Bertos was born in Wellington, to a Greek...
from Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
team Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
. Unfortunately, star youth player Nick Ward did not honour his two year contract and defied the advice of the FFA
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
and left for QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
In
| Player | Details |
|---|---|
 Stan LazaridisStan Lazaridis Stanley "Stan" Lazaridis is a former football player. He was predominantly a left winger though he had been known to perform at left-back... |
from  Birmingham City F.C.Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the... |
| Aleks Vrteski Aleks Vrteski Aleksandar Vrteski is a football goalkeeper who plays for Solo FC in Liga Primer Indonesia.-Club career:... |
from Australian Institute of Sport Australian Institute of Sport The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the... |
 Jeremy ChristieJeremy Christie Jeremy Christie is a New Zealand international footballer currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League.Christie can play in central midfield or as a defender... |
from |
| Mark Robertson Mark Robertson Mark Robertson is a former football player who earned one Socceroo caps in 2001.-Club career:... |
from Stockport County F.C. Stockport County F.C. Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport... |
| Leo Bertos Leo Bertos Leonida Christos "Leo" Bertos is a New Zealand association football player who plays as an attacking midfielder or right winger for New Zealand-based A-League team Wellington Phoenix and has represented the New Zealand national football team.-Early life:Bertos was born in Wellington, to a Greek... |
from Worksop Town F.C. Worksop Town F.C. Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division... |
Out
| Player | Details |
|---|---|
| Nick Ward |
to Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years... |
| Billy Celeski Billy Celeski Blagoja 'Billy' Celeski , is an Australian football player. He currently plays for Melbourne Victory as a central midfielder. His cousin is Perth Glory player Naum Sekulovski.-Club career:... |
to  Bulleen ZebrasBulleen Zebras Whittlesea Zebras is an Australian association football club based in Epping, Melbourne. The Zebras play in the Victorian Premier League.... |
Coaching staff
- Head Coach: Ron SmithRon Smith (football coach)Ronald "Ron" Smith is an Australian football coach, who currently works as Technical Director of Sydney Olympic.-Playing career:...
- Assistant Coach: Dave MitchellDave MitchellJames David Mitchell better known as "Dave Mitchell" is an American radio personality, producer, engineer, voice-over artist and former broadcast executive who has appeared on over 100 radio stations in Texas, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and on Sirius Satellite Radio...
Summary
| Date | | Home Team | | Score | | Away Team | | Stadium | | Crowd | | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|