3 Dec 2012

Sydney FC football director axed

5:50 pm on 3 December 2012

The A-League cellar dwellers Sydney FC have granted new coach Frank Farina's wish for greater control over his A-League squad by axing football director Gary Cole.

The move comes the same day Farina officially took the reins of the Sky Blues, following their scoreless draw with Melbourne Heart on Sunday.

The struggling Sky Blues announced on Monday they had rendered the football director role - created by former chief executive Dirk Melton - unnecessary, with Cole made redundant after almost a year at the club.

Farina is believed to have pushed for the changes and Sky Blues chief executive Tony Pignata says the club is fully backing its new coach, who arrived on Friday to take charge of the last-placed team.

Cole was hired by Sydney in December last year, eight months after he was sacked by Melbourne Victory.