Sydney FC boss Dirk Melton has challenged the players to back-up their verbal affection for departing coach Vitezslav Lavicka with on-field actions after a disastrous 5-2 loss to Newcastle on Sunday jeopardised the club's finals berth.
Sydney FC boss Dirk Melton has challenged the players to back-up their verbal affection for departing coach Vitezslav Lavicka with on-field actions after a disastrous 5-2 loss to Newcastle on Sunday jeopardised the club's finals berth.
The Sky Blues sank to seventh on the table after conceding five goals at home for the first time in the club's history.
It was a poor response from the players a little over 48 hours after Lavicka announced he would be ending his successful three-year reign at the club at the completion of the 2011/12 campaign.
While reluctant to discuss team performances, Melton revealed he felt sorry for the coach as the Jets punished some diabolical defending.
The CEO expects a greater effort over the last seven games of the regular season.
"I support the boys (but) they've got to look internally and find what each of their intrinsic motivators are and tap into it quickly," Melton told Sportal on Monday.
"You never want to lose any games at home but the boys have got four home games to go and there's a lot to play for."
"There's a finals spot, there's the coach leaving who they all care for greatly and there's uncontracted players."
"There isn't anything the CEO should need to say to motivate professional athletes to get the job done over the next seven weeks."
Melton was appalled by suggestions the club should move Lavicka on immediately following the Jets loss, calling it 'crazy talk'.
"He has been here for three years and been given an absolutely dignified farewell and given an opportunity to do what he needs to do for the rest of the year," the Sydney boss said.
"If people find any difficulty in that then they probably need to look in the mirror."
The Sky Blues face a tough run home, with five of their last seven games against teams currently inside the top six.
Melton is keen to see how the players respond, starting with in-form Perth Glory at the SFS on Saturday night.
"The key thing here is to stay positive but clearly everyone's behaviour in times of adversity are watched," he said.