1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,547 Speaker 1: from NEWSTALKSB. 3 00:00:12,907 --> 00:00:17,147 Speaker 2: A new era begins today at Wellington Phoenix Football Club. 4 00:00:18,027 --> 00:00:21,667 Speaker 3: To lose five neil at home, you know, with you know, 5 00:00:21,707 --> 00:00:25,067 Speaker 3: the season still to playface unacceptable and I take full responsibility, 6 00:00:25,067 --> 00:00:27,147 Speaker 3: you know. So you know, I've told the club ago 7 00:00:27,187 --> 00:00:31,187 Speaker 3: look tended my resignation and you know, I think, you know, 8 00:00:31,267 --> 00:00:33,947 Speaker 3: it's it's easier for someone to come in and just 9 00:00:34,507 --> 00:00:36,707 Speaker 3: with new energy and refocus the group. 10 00:00:36,947 --> 00:00:39,987 Speaker 2: So that was last weekend after the five mil lost 11 00:00:39,987 --> 00:00:43,667 Speaker 2: to Walkland FC in the Darby. Now former head coach 12 00:00:43,787 --> 00:00:49,267 Speaker 2: John Calotaliano, resigning club legend Chris Greenacre has taken the 13 00:00:49,307 --> 00:00:53,227 Speaker 2: reins initially ahead of just today's clash with Sydney FC 14 00:00:53,467 --> 00:00:56,947 Speaker 2: and Wellington. It's the fourth time he has taken interim 15 00:00:57,067 --> 00:00:59,707 Speaker 2: charge of the side in the middle of a season. 16 00:01:00,187 --> 00:01:03,387 Speaker 2: He of course, also played with great distinction for the 17 00:01:03,387 --> 00:01:06,267 Speaker 2: club eighty three matches across three seasons. In all three 18 00:01:06,707 --> 00:01:09,387 Speaker 2: seasons that Chris Greenacre was a Phoenix player, they made 19 00:01:09,427 --> 00:01:12,947 Speaker 2: the finals. This time feels different. This time feels as 20 00:01:12,987 --> 00:01:17,267 Speaker 2: though there could be more of a permanence about the arrangement. 21 00:01:17,347 --> 00:01:19,947 Speaker 2: Beyond this current season. I think initially they said, look, 22 00:01:19,987 --> 00:01:21,947 Speaker 2: let's get let's get the first game out of the way. 23 00:01:22,507 --> 00:01:26,067 Speaker 2: I think after today there'll be an announcement in the 24 00:01:26,107 --> 00:01:28,307 Speaker 2: early part of next week to say that Chris Greenacre 25 00:01:28,747 --> 00:01:30,587 Speaker 2: will take the team for the rest of this season, 26 00:01:30,707 --> 00:01:36,427 Speaker 2: and negotiations are ongoing, and provided things go okay over 27 00:01:36,467 --> 00:01:40,267 Speaker 2: the last eight games of the season, I hope that 28 00:01:40,347 --> 00:01:41,867 Speaker 2: he will be off of the job on a long 29 00:01:41,947 --> 00:01:45,147 Speaker 2: term basis. That is all to come, of course. I 30 00:01:45,147 --> 00:01:47,427 Speaker 2: spoke to Chris Greenacre when he was appointed to the 31 00:01:47,507 --> 00:01:49,987 Speaker 2: role earlier in the week to find out how this 32 00:01:50,067 --> 00:01:51,347 Speaker 2: had all played out. 33 00:01:52,027 --> 00:01:56,307 Speaker 4: The circumstances were slightly different to previously. Really, to be honest, 34 00:01:57,627 --> 00:02:00,347 Speaker 4: I think in the past it was needs most and 35 00:02:00,587 --> 00:02:02,387 Speaker 4: I was kind of the quickest fix. 36 00:02:02,947 --> 00:02:06,187 Speaker 5: But this time it was certainly different. You know. 37 00:02:06,427 --> 00:02:08,467 Speaker 4: Sean, to be fair, said to me, look, is it 38 00:02:08,547 --> 00:02:10,067 Speaker 4: something that you would want to do? So I kind 39 00:02:10,067 --> 00:02:13,947 Speaker 4: of had the opportunity, and obviously part of you you're unsure, 40 00:02:14,787 --> 00:02:15,627 Speaker 4: like do I take it? 41 00:02:15,627 --> 00:02:16,107 Speaker 5: Do I don't? 42 00:02:17,307 --> 00:02:19,107 Speaker 4: But you know, it didn't take me very long to 43 00:02:19,227 --> 00:02:21,147 Speaker 4: sort of say, let's let's have a go with it. 44 00:02:21,947 --> 00:02:25,147 Speaker 4: I've been in the game a long time. I understand, 45 00:02:25,827 --> 00:02:29,107 Speaker 4: and I appreciate what's gone before me. Got full of 46 00:02:29,107 --> 00:02:33,027 Speaker 4: admiration for Chief and what he achieved here, all the accolades. 47 00:02:32,467 --> 00:02:32,987 Speaker 5: That he had. 48 00:02:34,107 --> 00:02:37,027 Speaker 4: More importantly, what he's like as a person, and you know, 49 00:02:37,067 --> 00:02:39,987 Speaker 4: he's a really good guy, loves a game through and through. 50 00:02:41,747 --> 00:02:46,147 Speaker 4: But then in in professional sport, it moves on pretty 51 00:02:46,187 --> 00:02:48,107 Speaker 4: quickly and we sort of have to move on. But 52 00:02:48,467 --> 00:02:52,067 Speaker 4: from my perspective, I just I jumped at the opportunity 53 00:02:52,107 --> 00:02:54,107 Speaker 4: and here we are, and we. 54 00:02:53,987 --> 00:02:55,987 Speaker 2: Do move on because there's a game on Sunday. So 55 00:02:56,267 --> 00:02:59,027 Speaker 2: in the space of a week, where do you place 56 00:02:59,067 --> 00:02:59,627 Speaker 2: your focus? 57 00:03:00,987 --> 00:03:04,987 Speaker 4: I think the players, and I could include myself in it, 58 00:03:05,827 --> 00:03:08,427 Speaker 4: you know, for get the loss at the weekend, forget 59 00:03:08,427 --> 00:03:10,267 Speaker 4: it was a derby and all that kind of stuff. 60 00:03:11,107 --> 00:03:14,547 Speaker 4: I think as some professionally, you want to give everything 61 00:03:14,547 --> 00:03:16,787 Speaker 4: that you've got, and I think we we we as 62 00:03:16,827 --> 00:03:18,307 Speaker 4: a club, want to get some pride back. 63 00:03:18,387 --> 00:03:21,707 Speaker 5: That's really really important. Pride in the badge, probabe, pride. 64 00:03:21,467 --> 00:03:24,827 Speaker 4: Of playing for this club, give the fans something to 65 00:03:24,907 --> 00:03:29,187 Speaker 4: really scream about and get you know, fans in the stadium, 66 00:03:29,667 --> 00:03:32,507 Speaker 4: so you know, forget about the result. It's about getting 67 00:03:32,547 --> 00:03:35,307 Speaker 4: some pride back and some belief and some trust. 68 00:03:35,347 --> 00:03:38,027 Speaker 2: Again, I think, what does it look like in practical terms? Granny? 69 00:03:38,107 --> 00:03:41,507 Speaker 2: You know you say you restore pride. It's almost a 70 00:03:41,507 --> 00:03:43,787 Speaker 2: bit of a It's a vague concept, doesn't it. What 71 00:03:43,827 --> 00:03:45,227 Speaker 2: does it look like in practical terms? 72 00:03:45,267 --> 00:03:47,707 Speaker 4: I think in the simplest way, I kind of addressed 73 00:03:47,707 --> 00:03:50,107 Speaker 4: the boys and said, I've said exactly the same thing. 74 00:03:50,147 --> 00:03:51,587 Speaker 5: So I'm not hiding behind anything. 75 00:03:52,627 --> 00:03:55,427 Speaker 4: When you when you're playing Europe and you're playing Saturday Tuesday, 76 00:03:55,467 --> 00:03:58,387 Speaker 4: if you don't have a successful performance, ort of result 77 00:03:58,467 --> 00:04:00,867 Speaker 4: goes against you, you've got a couple of days to. 78 00:04:00,947 --> 00:04:01,907 Speaker 5: Kind of try and fix it. 79 00:04:02,107 --> 00:04:03,867 Speaker 4: We have a little bit longer in this part of 80 00:04:03,907 --> 00:04:06,867 Speaker 4: the world, and so you can't really wait for the 81 00:04:06,907 --> 00:04:07,947 Speaker 4: next game to come around. 82 00:04:08,027 --> 00:04:09,387 Speaker 5: It can't come around quick enough. 83 00:04:10,147 --> 00:04:12,907 Speaker 4: And then that it's just your professional pride of Actually, 84 00:04:13,227 --> 00:04:15,267 Speaker 4: you know, there'll be moments in the games when the 85 00:04:15,267 --> 00:04:18,187 Speaker 4: players have looked at their own performance and gone, actually 86 00:04:18,187 --> 00:04:20,947 Speaker 4: that was okay. Other parts I could have been better, 87 00:04:20,987 --> 00:04:22,627 Speaker 4: And it's about trying to fix the bits that you 88 00:04:22,627 --> 00:04:23,187 Speaker 4: can do better. 89 00:04:23,227 --> 00:04:23,987 Speaker 5: Because the stuff that. 90 00:04:23,987 --> 00:04:25,987 Speaker 4: They did well or they thought they did well, we 91 00:04:26,067 --> 00:04:28,267 Speaker 4: need to keep building on that. So that's kind of 92 00:04:28,267 --> 00:04:32,907 Speaker 4: a simple message to the boys, and they've certainly adapted 93 00:04:32,907 --> 00:04:34,147 Speaker 4: to that and done that. 94 00:04:34,187 --> 00:04:35,387 Speaker 5: In training, there's. 95 00:04:35,187 --> 00:04:37,867 Speaker 2: Some deannered pride, some dented confidence, some dennered egos. Here 96 00:04:37,867 --> 00:04:40,467 Speaker 2: no doubt, have you hit two addressed that sort of thing, 97 00:04:40,507 --> 00:04:43,147 Speaker 2: And I mean, do you have time to build guys up? 98 00:04:43,787 --> 00:04:45,947 Speaker 4: I think I can really tell you there are a 99 00:04:45,947 --> 00:04:48,107 Speaker 4: really good group of players. And it's easy for me 100 00:04:48,147 --> 00:04:49,867 Speaker 4: to say, oh, yeah, they're a good group of players 101 00:04:49,867 --> 00:04:51,667 Speaker 4: and they love it because that's just cliche and that's 102 00:04:51,707 --> 00:04:55,187 Speaker 4: what everyone says. But there's a real tight togetherness of 103 00:04:55,867 --> 00:04:56,627 Speaker 4: the group. 104 00:04:57,827 --> 00:04:58,587 Speaker 5: In all honesty. 105 00:04:58,987 --> 00:05:01,587 Speaker 4: I mean training yesterday was a little bit more competitive 106 00:05:01,627 --> 00:05:05,427 Speaker 4: than I actually liked, So that chose to. 107 00:05:05,347 --> 00:05:08,227 Speaker 5: Me straight away. Every single player and that squad cares. 108 00:05:08,547 --> 00:05:12,427 Speaker 4: They do care. And I've been an armchair supporter obviously 109 00:05:12,467 --> 00:05:14,627 Speaker 4: when the team. I'm at the stadium watching the games 110 00:05:14,627 --> 00:05:16,227 Speaker 4: and I go to Poor U and I watched the 111 00:05:16,227 --> 00:05:19,707 Speaker 4: girls playing, and I'm an armchair fan when we're overseas. 112 00:05:20,907 --> 00:05:22,547 Speaker 5: But I can tell you they care. 113 00:05:22,947 --> 00:05:25,627 Speaker 4: Trust me, they care, and and I think when you've 114 00:05:25,667 --> 00:05:29,707 Speaker 4: got those ingredients, anything can happen. So we've got a 115 00:05:29,747 --> 00:05:32,707 Speaker 4: really good opportunity with Sydney. You know, if he's done 116 00:05:32,707 --> 00:05:36,867 Speaker 4: a terrific job there. They're playing some good football. But 117 00:05:36,947 --> 00:05:39,587 Speaker 4: it's a great game for us to get ourselves up 118 00:05:39,827 --> 00:05:43,107 Speaker 4: up for and and and really get as I say, 119 00:05:43,267 --> 00:05:46,027 Speaker 4: get some pride back into this badge and what are your. 120 00:05:45,867 --> 00:05:49,107 Speaker 2: Own personal ambitions? As a coach said. 121 00:05:49,107 --> 00:05:52,307 Speaker 4: In all of this, this hasn't really changed for me. 122 00:05:53,427 --> 00:05:55,907 Speaker 4: I've never been in a rush to get to where 123 00:05:55,907 --> 00:05:58,987 Speaker 4: ever the end may be. And then I'm literally taking 124 00:05:59,027 --> 00:06:01,667 Speaker 4: it day by day. And that's that's the truth. Even 125 00:06:01,707 --> 00:06:05,067 Speaker 4: when I was the reserve team coach, I still see 126 00:06:05,107 --> 00:06:08,787 Speaker 4: myself as that guy. So from a personal perspective, that 127 00:06:08,827 --> 00:06:13,707 Speaker 4: hasn't really changed. Again, how this pans out, who knows. 128 00:06:13,827 --> 00:06:17,027 Speaker 4: Who knows, but obviously we'll give it the best best 129 00:06:17,107 --> 00:06:20,587 Speaker 4: chance we can. The club have been really loyal to 130 00:06:20,667 --> 00:06:24,667 Speaker 4: me and giving me an opportunity to kind of grow. 131 00:06:25,787 --> 00:06:27,387 Speaker 4: And as I say, I've never I haven't been on 132 00:06:27,427 --> 00:06:30,147 Speaker 4: a rush to get to this point. You hear stories of, 133 00:06:30,307 --> 00:06:33,507 Speaker 4: you know, people want to progress really quickly by doing 134 00:06:33,547 --> 00:06:36,947 Speaker 4: things that are not You're not, so you know, aligned 135 00:06:36,987 --> 00:06:39,827 Speaker 4: to everything. That hasn't been the case for me, and 136 00:06:40,187 --> 00:06:42,467 Speaker 4: the club have been patient. But I think We've also 137 00:06:42,507 --> 00:06:44,667 Speaker 4: been loyal to each other, which is I think kind 138 00:06:44,667 --> 00:06:47,507 Speaker 4: of quite fitting. And so, yeah, I've been here a 139 00:06:47,547 --> 00:06:50,747 Speaker 4: long time and I don't sound cliche, but it feels 140 00:06:50,787 --> 00:06:54,067 Speaker 4: like this is my club. I've almost been here as 141 00:06:54,107 --> 00:06:56,627 Speaker 4: long as I've spent time in my family home as 142 00:06:56,627 --> 00:06:56,947 Speaker 4: a kid. 143 00:06:57,027 --> 00:07:00,307 Speaker 5: So it's home from home. And I want to be 144 00:07:00,347 --> 00:07:01,147 Speaker 5: successful here. 145 00:07:01,307 --> 00:07:04,667 Speaker 4: Whether I'm the long term answer or not, I want 146 00:07:04,707 --> 00:07:07,427 Speaker 4: to be successful there. It isn't a flying the open 147 00:07:07,547 --> 00:07:09,707 Speaker 4: for me. I want to be successful. I don't want 148 00:07:09,707 --> 00:07:11,627 Speaker 4: to go anywhere else. I want to be successful here. 149 00:07:11,667 --> 00:07:14,547 Speaker 4: And you know, maybe that's a point of difference. I 150 00:07:14,587 --> 00:07:17,267 Speaker 4: don't know, but as I say, I'm proud to be 151 00:07:17,347 --> 00:07:19,627 Speaker 4: stood here. I'm proud to have been associated with his 152 00:07:19,667 --> 00:07:23,747 Speaker 4: club for such a long time. And yeah, it's again 153 00:07:23,787 --> 00:07:24,707 Speaker 4: who knows what happens? 154 00:07:24,747 --> 00:07:27,547 Speaker 2: Who knows what happens? Indeed, that is Chris Greenacre, the 155 00:07:27,947 --> 00:07:32,987 Speaker 2: new interim for the meantime anyway, head coach of Wellington Phoenix. 156 00:07:33,067 --> 00:07:36,427 Speaker 2: He's a very impressive guy. He's been around the club 157 00:07:36,427 --> 00:07:39,027 Speaker 2: for a long time. As I say, he first arrived 158 00:07:39,067 --> 00:07:42,827 Speaker 2: in Wellington as a player in mid two thousand and nine, 159 00:07:43,027 --> 00:07:47,427 Speaker 2: played the nineteen ten eleven and eleven twelve seasons with 160 00:07:47,547 --> 00:07:52,947 Speaker 2: Wellington eighty three games during those three seasons. Was highly 161 00:07:53,027 --> 00:07:56,987 Speaker 2: regarded for his selflessness and the fact that he would 162 00:07:56,987 --> 00:07:59,827 Speaker 2: do a lot of running. Paul Eiffel, who is one 163 00:07:59,827 --> 00:08:03,787 Speaker 2: of the Phoenix's greatest ever players, often says that a 164 00:08:03,907 --> 00:08:07,107 Speaker 2: huge part of his success was down to the unseen 165 00:08:07,227 --> 00:08:11,707 Speaker 2: work that Chris Greenacre did in partnership with him. Following 166 00:08:11,707 --> 00:08:14,027 Speaker 2: his playing days, he moved into coaching. He was an 167 00:08:14,107 --> 00:08:17,787 Speaker 2: assistant to Ricky Herbert in the twenty twelve thirteen season. 168 00:08:18,867 --> 00:08:23,107 Speaker 2: Late in that season, Ricky Herbert resigned and Chris Greenacre 169 00:08:23,187 --> 00:08:24,827 Speaker 2: took over for the first time, and as I say, 170 00:08:24,867 --> 00:08:27,747 Speaker 2: he's done that another couple of times in the time since. 171 00:08:27,787 --> 00:08:31,987 Speaker 2: When Ernie Merrick resigned mid season, Chris Greenacre and Des 172 00:08:32,027 --> 00:08:36,907 Speaker 2: Buckingham in combination took over. And when Daria Kaligic left 173 00:08:36,947 --> 00:08:38,987 Speaker 2: with the half a dozen games or so to go 174 00:08:39,587 --> 00:08:44,067 Speaker 2: at the end of the twenty seventeen eighteen season that 175 00:08:44,107 --> 00:08:47,307 Speaker 2: would have been again, it was Chris Greenacre who stepped 176 00:08:47,347 --> 00:08:50,307 Speaker 2: into the breach. And so it is again and as 177 00:08:50,307 --> 00:08:55,107 Speaker 2: I said, I just hope that this is more permanent. 178 00:08:56,067 --> 00:08:57,707 Speaker 2: Of course, we can't predict what will happen over the 179 00:08:57,787 --> 00:09:00,747 Speaker 2: next eight games. Wellington are still well and truly in 180 00:09:00,827 --> 00:09:04,627 Speaker 2: the conversation for top six. It seems remarkable to say 181 00:09:04,667 --> 00:09:06,947 Speaker 2: when they've only won five games this year and bart 182 00:09:07,547 --> 00:09:10,707 Speaker 2: with the table so tight, it is not beyond the 183 00:09:10,707 --> 00:09:13,107 Speaker 2: realms of possibility that they could make a run at it. 184 00:09:13,147 --> 00:09:15,667 Speaker 2: And you often get a bit of a bounce, don't 185 00:09:15,707 --> 00:09:20,027 Speaker 2: you After a coach resigns, the playing group of it down. 186 00:09:20,187 --> 00:09:24,107 Speaker 2: Somebody comes in with a fresh voice, fresh ideas, and 187 00:09:24,427 --> 00:09:28,907 Speaker 2: immediately there is an uptick in enthusiasm. Let's hope that 188 00:09:29,147 --> 00:09:32,147 Speaker 2: is what happens this afternoon. In the first instance, when 189 00:09:32,267 --> 00:09:37,227 Speaker 2: Wellington welcomes SYDNEYFC to what is now called Henry Stadium. 190 00:09:37,267 --> 00:09:39,787 Speaker 2: It's the first of March today, isn't it is new 191 00:09:39,827 --> 00:09:42,587 Speaker 2: sponsor for the stadium in Wellington. Henry Stadium is what 192 00:09:42,627 --> 00:09:46,627 Speaker 2: we call it now and ironically enough, a former Phoenix 193 00:09:46,627 --> 00:09:50,107 Speaker 2: head coach in Ufuk Talay, will be here in charge 194 00:09:50,227 --> 00:09:51,467 Speaker 2: of SYDNEYFC. 195 00:09:52,267 --> 00:09:55,467 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 196 00:09:55,547 --> 00:09:58,867 Speaker 1: to News Talk st B weekends from midday or follow 197 00:09:58,907 --> 00:10:00,507 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.