A bitter legal conflict is on the horizon between Newcastle Jets and their father-and-son coach and marquee player, Branko and Jason Culina. This comes after their abrupt dismissal on Tuesday, just days before the upcoming season kicks off.
The dismissals followed last month’s announcement that due to a knee injury sustained during the Asian Cup in January, Jason Culina will not be participating in this season, months prior to joining the Jets.
After obtaining legal counsel, Newcastle promptly terminated Branko Culina’s contract and requested permission from Football Federation Australia to nullify Jason’s three-year, $2.7 million agreement. Reports suggest that the Jets aim to leverage Culina’s injury to revoke the contracts while invoking clause 7.6 of the typical player contract, which mandates players to disclose any injuries prior to joining a club.
However, various sources indicate that Culina Sr. did not play a direct role in the negotiations to recruit his son, and the severity of Jason’s injury was well-known within the sport community.
Rumors are swirling that former Jets coach Gary van Egmond may be contacted regarding a potential return to the club, two years after resigning from former owner Con Constantine, due to the abrupt firing of Culina.
The A-League’s celebration of its seventh season took a surprising turn when Jets owner Nathan Tinkler summoned Culina during the league’s season launch at the Sydney Football Stadium, requesting his presence at a meeting in Sydney.
Culina departed, informing officials of a brief return, only to be stunned to learn of his dismissal. It was understood that the decision was primarily made by Tinkler, catching several Jets officials off guard.
Both Culinas are determined to contest the club’s actions vigorously, and Jason has the full support of the players’ union.
“This is a troubling situation – the A-League needs Jason Culina,” stated PFA CEO Brendan Schwab.
“He’s working hard to recover from a significant injury because he plans to return within months.
“When someone has contributed so much to the game, the industry ought to support him during such times.”
It remains uncertain whether the FFA will agree to Jason’s contract being revoked, as officials have indicated that the governing body plays no role in player contracts beyond marquee signing approvals. For Branko Culina, this concludes an unwelcome double after being dismissed by Sydney FC in 2007.
Two years later, he took on the role of technical director for the Jets and subsequently became the coach when van Egmond stepped down to serve as assistant coach for Australia’s youth teams and the AIS.
Despite managing limited resources and an injury-riddled squad, he transformed the Jets into an appealing team, nearly reaching the finals last season.
Earlier this year, he was awarded a four-year contract as part of Tinkler’s incoming administration, and he had expressed optimism during the A-League launch about the shift in circumstances.
“It’s been fantastic; we’ve got a new owner with fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm around the club,” he remarked.
Buford Balony says: Jason Culina is overrated and didn’t deserve that kind of money in the A-League anyway.