Merrick's Vale of mystery

http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index....&cid=100911

In one of the most bizarre A-League tales of the year, championship-winning Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick has failed to land a job he never applied for at a club he has never heard of.

Merrick, 54, was astonished to learn this week that English League One outfit Port Vale - best known for having pop prince Robbie Williams as a celebrity shareholder - had snubbed him for a position eventually filled by a man who has coached just 14 professional games.

Merrick, who signed a new two-year deal withy the Victory in September, has launched an investigation through his agents Elite Sports Properties in to how his resume found its way to the Staffordshire side currently rooted to the foot of the table and in grave danger of sliding in to English football’s fourth tier.

Aghast at being linked to a club with average gates of 5,000 without ever expressing any desire to quit Australia, it appears Merrick’s profile was hijacked by UK middlemen hoping they could make a quick financial killing by hitching him with a club.

The charade went so far that Merrick was even sent an email from Port Vale, via the shadowy London-based fledgling player agency which attempted to broker a deal, which read, in part, ‘’... thank you so much for your application, but unfortunately you did not make the short-list (of six), very best wishes for the future.''

It was signed by Vale’s chief executive Bill Bratt.

''I'm not interested in any jobs, other than Melbourne Victory,'' a miffed Merrick insisted.

''I love it there and I love Australia. I'm contracted until 2010 and we're in the Asian Champions League.''

''Who are Port Vale? Where are they?''

''If it was Celtic or Chelsea, then I would be interested.''

''Why would I go back to Britain? What a dive. I left that nation 22 years ago and I have no intention of going back. Who’d want to live in that climate?''

''I'd be awfully disappointed by anybody who spreads these rumours and lies about me. This is some sort of joke.’’

But poe-faced Port Vale secretary Bill Lodey, clearly taken in by the ruse, was deadly serious when he said: ‘’He (Ernie) was one of 60 applicants for the position.''

‘’We don’t care whether they are from Australia or Siam, we’re just interested in the best people for the job and we think we got the best applicant.''

‘’I won’t confirm whether he (Merrick) was one of the leading contenders, I don’t think that is right and proper but the fact he was unsuccessful is certainly no reflection on where he is from.’’

Merrick takes the heat for Melbourne's on-field cold spell

http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/merri...6812923314.html

MELBOURNE Victory's championship winning coach Ernie Merrick has taken full responsibility for his under-performing team's season.

"The results are my responsibility," he admitted, declaring that the floundering titleholder simply had to win its next two home games against Adelaide and Newcastle if it was to retain any hope of staying in the finals race.

Merrick yesterday delayed training for more than 90 minutes to allow his team to meet with sports psychologist Patrick Farrell but declared that the coach was the most important influence on his players.

"My role is the most important when it comes to sports psychology," Merrick said.

"It's about my ability to motivate the team to play well, to have them structured and organised and know what they are doing and to get a stable team out that performs consistently week in week out."

Strong rumours about this morning that Ernie will be sacked tonight, to be replaced by Postecoglou for the remainder of the season and the ACL.

Should be an interesting night.

Now that is a step backwards....How much more damage can Postecoglu inflict on Australian football. Hes only being mentioned because of his history and affiliation with Melbourne. Add to that his greek background and impressive resume, you got one fine coach lined up

I hope they sign him, then Fox will be rid of a crap commentator.

I hope they sign him, then Fox will be rid of a crap commentator.

Queensland and Newcastle are really the only teams which gives new talent a go in the A-League and go out to play an attractive game.

Melbourne without Fred, because they refused to pay a measly $150,000 grand have been horrible. I've sat through every game, constantly disappointed at the kind of game Merrick brings forward. Long ball to Allsopp, who is quite possibly the WORST target man I've ever seen in my life is just not good enough.

long ball my arse (not like that). i doubt there will be much of that with hernandez in attacking MF (and fit). on his day he's a class up from all the other MF's in the comp.