Dimitri Petratos and the Wanderers are flattering to deceive under Carl Robinson.Credit:Getty
Robinson’s position appears to be untenable,having won just two of his past 11 games at the helm,while the team has shown no other markers of progression during his 14-month reign. The Welshman admitted in his post-match media conference that he did not have the answers to Western Sydney’s attacking problems.
“It’s a really,really good question,” Robinson said when asked why his players,despite their experience and apparent quality,are not creating more clear-cut opportunities on goal. “The answer is I’m not sure.”
It was a clip of Robinson posted by a Wanderers’ fan media account on Twitter that attracted a pointed response from Heffernan,who said chairman Paul Lederer was completely unaware of the scale of the problems within the club.
“I can tell you Carl,” Heffernan wrote. “It’s because JT[CEO John Tsatsimas] and Gavin Costello[general manager of football operations] have created the most toxic environment I’ve seen in 20 years of football. Paul Lederer wouldn’t be aware of what goes on. How can 60-odd players and 4 coaches over 5 years be wrong. I rejected a 3rd year due to the above.”
In other tweets,he said:“It’s not the players. This has been happening for years now,most former players that walk in there say something’s not right here anymore. It[is] an energy and you feel it,and can smell it from the car park. It slowly seeps into you without even knowing. I was an empty shell in that place mate. It was a slow football death over 3 years of coaching. I’m happy in the corporate world now,where everyone works together to achieve goals.”
Zwaanswijk,who was deemed surplus to requirements by Robinson when he was appointed head coach late last year,replied:“I know 100% I wasn’t the only one. We will keep our heads up but won’t be silenced anymore. Truth hurts but is healing at the same time.”