Ibini’s agent,James Hardy,told SBS that the uncertainty around the club’s ownership situation was “mentally,emotionally and physically” draining for the winger,and that he was personally “concerned for his welfare as a human being.”
Hardy is part of the same agency,Avid Sports&Entertainment Group,which also manages Robinson.
At the luncheon,McKinna expressed his doubt over Ibini’s mental health claims.
“We have to recognise mental health,that it’s an illness. But when people take the piss,it’s wrong,because it affects so many people and so many families,because it’s real,” McKinna said at the event.
“It’s disgraceful ... these guys are getting a contract and then they can rip it up when they want. There’s certain agents in the world who are advising people to use that mental health thing and I think that’s disrespectful to anybody who suffers from anxiety,depression and stuff like that.
“That’s bullshit what he’s done. I can’t wait until he’s away from this club and out the place because you don’t want f---ers like that in Newcastle representing the club.”
McKinna said after Ibini’s initial request for a release was denied,he took 10 days of paid leave as permitted in standard A-League player contracts.
“After that you can stand him down without pay. So we got the doctor’s certificate through - an online doctor diagnosed him with mental health stress,that he couldn’t train,” McKinna said.
“So we said yep,no problem ... then we stopped paying him,because the PFA said stop paying him now. His mental health issues disappeared.
Loading
“All of a sudden,he was healthy,he was back at training,training like a busted arse – going through the motions.”
Ibini’s shift continues a flurry of transfer activity from Western Sydney,who signed James Troisi on Wednesday after his ugly split from Adelaide United,and also announced on Thursday the signing of defender Ziggy Gordon from the Central Coast Mariners.
All three players were under contract at their previous clubs. Current A-League rules do not permit players to transfer directly from one club to another,which is why they had to seek releases from their contracts to take up rivals deals –although that will change next year when Football Australia introduces a domestic transfer system.
Gordon had only signed a contract extension with the Mariners in October,and said at the time he’d “never felt so welcome at a club”. Then the Wanderers expressed their interest in him.