Socceroos coach Postecoglou to meet with FFA on World Cup future

Sydney (AFP) – Coach Ange Postecoglou said Sunday he will meet with Football Federation Australia officials this week to decide whether he will take the Socceroos to next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Postecoglou has kept everyone guessing about his much-rumoured departure after Australia overcame Honduras 3-1 to reach their fourth consecutive World Cup in Sydney last week.

He has failed to confirm or deny rumours he is about to quit, after a report last month quoted a close source as saying he would walk away even if Australia qualified for Russia 2018.

Postecoglou said he aimed to have a speedy resolution to the uncertainty ahead of the official World Cup draw in Moscow on December 1.

“It will happen this week. It’s going to happen quickly,” Postecoglou told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in an interview.

“Again, you don’t want to be continually asked and I’ve tried to be as honest with people to say it will all be decided after this (Honduras) game.

“It wasn’t just me trying to string people along. It will happen quickly. We’ll have the discussions this week and we’ll come to a resolution.”

Asked whether he had decided on his future, Postecoglou said it continually “fluctuates”.

“No, I can’t say that I’m locked to a position,” he said.

“There are things there that for a whole range of reasons, some are fairly personal, some are private, some are just me as a person, and some are professional, that all need to be put into place.

“And what’s going to be good for the team is also a consideration. So all those things will be discussed this week and there will be a quick resolution.”

He rejected suggestions that his relationship with the FFA and chief executive David Gallop could force him to quit.

“A lot of people try to make out that I have some sort of a broken relationship with David Gallop or that. That’s not how it works,” he said.

“I don’t work with people to become friends. I need to be supported to do what I need to do, and they’ve supported me 100 percent.

“There is nothing that I’ve asked for. So it is never a relationship thing with me. It goes deeper and far beyond at that.”