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Sydney's season on the line

16 January 2007 | 15:14 - SBS

Sydney FC needs at least a draw when it faces Queensland Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday to cement its place in the A-League finals - and in doing so go some way to securing Terry Butcher's coaching job with the defending champion.

 

Club chairman Edmund Capon admitted to the Daily Telegraph that a clause in Butcher's contract states that the second year option on his contract depends on a final four position.

"If we fail to make the finals then we would have to look at things (the coaching situation) again," Capon said. "It would put (the board) in a very difficult position."

"(The clause) is part of the contract and that's something we inherited (from the reign of former chairman Walter Bugno). Let's see how we go this weekend."

Depending on Round 21 results, third place Sydney (28 points) can finish as high as second with a win over fourth place Queensland (also 28 points) but a defeat could result in missing the finals altogether.

The competition's glamour club has had to battle a number of difficulties this season, including injuries to key players, suspensions and a loss of three points for its second salary cap breach in two years.

This weekend will be no different with Mark Milligan and Terry McFlynn suspended and Jerermy Brockie injured.

Defender Alvin Ceccoli and midfielder Ufuk Talay are in doubt with heel problems although striker Sasho Petrovski should be fit to play after a back injury.

Despite the expectation, Sydney captain Mark Rudan remains confident of getting the job done.

"The pressure is on but we like that," he said. "You can make excuses for our situation but I don't intend to do that."

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