Glory stalwarts felt axe was coming
Perth Glory stalwart Scott Miller sensed he would be cast aside by the club several months ago after former head coach Alistair Edwards was sacked.
Miller and ex-Glory teammate Gareth Naven had been brought in on two-year contracts as assistants to Edwards in April last year.
But a tumultuous 2013-14 A-League campaign reached a flashpoint after just 10 games when Edwards was sacked and replaced by Kenny Lowe.
Miller and Naven were shown the door this week as part of a major overhaul of Glory’s football department following an internal review.
Recently retired former captain Jacob Burns was appointed to a wide-ranging new role as general manager of football, with John Gibson and Steven McGarry accepting positions in the club’s youth development pathway.
Goalkeeping coach Neil Young has been replaced by fellow former player Danny Milosevic.
It is believed Miller and Naven were told several weeks ago they would be sacked, though chief executive Jason Brewer denied that was the case when questioned by thewest.com.au earlier this month.
The official announcement was made by the club this week.
Miller, who resigned as coach of State league team Cockburn City to take up the assistant role with Glory, said he had seen his sacking coming from a long way off.
“The writing was on the wall once Alistair left,” Miller told Sport FM yesterday.
“When a head coach comes in he brings his people and when a new head coach comes in they bring their people. That’s football.
“We’re grateful for the time we had and it was very enjoyable.”
It is understood the decision to sack Naven and Miller was not made by Lowe. The call came from above the coach’s head.
The decision seemed contradictory to Glory’s desire to employ club luminaries in the football department — a philosophy introduced by Edwards and frequently referred to by chief executive Jason Brewer.
Naven was Glory’s inaugural captain in 1996 and played 143 games for the club.
Miller made 227 appearances and featured in the 2003 National Soccer League grand final win over Olympic Sharks.
Both were key figures during Glory’s most successful era in the NSL.
