Perth Glory is continuing to deny reports former Socceroo Stan Lazaridis is set to be appointed by the club as director of football - saying coach Dave Mitchell still has the full support of the board and players.
The troubled A-League club's co-owner Tony Sage and chief executive Scott Gooch are due to meet with players on Friday to discuss a shocking start to the season that has involved dreadful performances and questions over the squad's commitment.
With growing pressure on Mitchell, a report on 6PR radio said Lazaridis had been signed in an all-encompassing role to sit above the coach, in charge of all the club's football operations.
When contacted by WAtoday.com.au, a Glory spokesman said that while the club was in talks with Lazaridis about a possible role, nothing had been confirmed.
And a statement later released by the club said they had not appointed Lazaridis to the position of football director.
"Discussions between Glory co-owners Mr Tony Sage and Mr Brett McKeon are on-going with Lazaridis about a possible position on the club's board," the club said.
"The club wishes to make it clear that any potential role for Lazaridis will not incorporate a direct involvement in the day to day running of the football department.
"Head Coach Dave Mitchell will continue to make all decisions in relation to strategy and player recruitment. Mitchell retains the full support of club owners, management and players to lead the club to success.
"Mr Sage and Mr McKeon said they believed Lazaridis is committed to a prosperous future for Perth Glory and football in Western Australia however no agreement about the former Socceroos' involvement has been reached.
With Mitchell the man that ended Lazaridis' playing career before this season, any such appointment of the former West Ham and Birmingham winger could make the Scot's role at the club even more trying.
Meanwhile Sage and Gooch are due to hold a crisis meeting with the player group tomorrow to find out who, if anybody, wants to walk away from the struggling A-League club.
In the wake of last week's disastrous 4-0 capitulation to Melbourne, which left the Glory six points adrift of the top four, coach David Mitchell held a heart-to-heart meeting with his underperforming charges to allow everyone to air their grievances.
At that meeting Mitchell gave his players an ultimatum - stay and fight with 100 per cent commitment or walk away now.
The players were given a few days to mull over the offer and will make their decision known when they meet with Sage and Gooch tomorrow.
Mitchell, who admitted some players at the club were mentally fragile, met with Sage and Gooch this morning to discuss the team's dire predicament.
The coach has made it clear he is unimpressed with the attitude of several high-profile players at the club.
"I've spoken to a few players and I've said to them that if they don't want to be here then tell me, for the sake of the club, themselves and myself, and then they can move on," Mitchell said.
"I said to them if players don't want to be here please let it be known and then we can move forward and let them go.
"November's the time where people can move to other clubs.
"It's a situation where if a player doesn't want to be here for whatever reason, then leave.
"Are they thinking of other things? Are they thinking about going to Europe or going elsewhere? So the question had to be asked and that's why I've given them a couple of days to think about it."
Mitchell's contract expires at the end of the season but the coach said he wanted an extension on his current deal so he could implement measures for future success.
"I think if I had another year or two I could settle things down a little bit and then start making some decisions for the club, which I have done now, for the benefit of the club moving forward for next season," Mitchell said.
The Glory, who were kings of the now-defunct National Soccer League, have been the whipping boys of the national competition since the A-League's inception.
They currently sit last on the table and attracted a club-low 4,433 fans to their last home game.
A press conference with Sage and Gooch is due to be held on Friday to outline the results of their discussions with the players.
- with AAP
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