Club is United only in name John Kosmina looking troubled at a press conference with Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin. Picture: Matt Turner Source: The Advertiser JOHN Kosmina's bitter Adelaide United exit has exposed a culture clash tearing at the fabric of the flagship A-League club. Kosmina stunned by quitting United last Monday - delivering a withering critique of club management's forward planning and ethics in the process. Kosmina wanted a formalised two-year extension to the December 2011 handshake agreement that returned him to Hindmarsh in place of sacked predecessor Rini Coolen. Former Reds skipper Michael Valkanis - also a player in Kosmina's first term as United coach from 2003-07 - was shocked and offended by the assertion he coveted Kosmina's role, which will soon be advertised internationally. Former United supremo Aurelio Vidmar's famous "pissant town" rant about destructive forces motivated by jealousy and petty agendas plaguing the club appeared poignant three years on. Yet founding father and former owner Nick Bianco is optimistic, believing the club and fans can emerge from a dark period with an unprecedented chance to prosper. John Kosmina in happier times when it was announced he was returning to Adelaide United as senior coach. Picture: Matt Turner. They say marriage is a triumph of hope over experience but those who watched Kosmina's removal as Adelaide United coach in 2007 suspected a second union would also end in tears. But no one predicted the charismatic coach would quit nine rounds from the finals with the Reds just two wins from top spot. Those in the Kosmina camp blame his demise on a management team derived from an AFL background interfering in core soccer department business it didn't understand. Conversely, United's new consortium comprising businessmen Rob Gerrard, Bruno Marveggio, lawyer Greg Griffin and Dr Richard Noble argue they will balance the books for the first time in club history next year. In a sporting Catch 22 the club's spiritual connection to the soccer community which once delivered fervent, packed match-day crowds at Hindmarsh never translated into financial security. John Kosmina talks with disgruntled striker Sergio Van Dijk. Picture: Sarah Reed. Original benefactors Gordon Pickard and Bianco ran the club for love not money. While the Reds expect to break even in 2013-14, the home attendances and passion that made Hindmarsh A-League's cherished theatre has dimmed since 2010 when the Gerrard consortium assumed the licence from Football Federation Australia. Interim coach Valkanis is ideally placed to reconcile the upheaval at Hindmarsh, having been part of the inaugural United squad that formed at short notice under Kosmina for the final National Soccer League season in 2003. Valkanis says a fledgling A-League competition can learn from the barnstorming professionalism of AFL clubs. "The AFL is further ahead in how they run their business, we can probably learn quite a bit from people from within the AFL," said Valkanis, who figured for Greek Side Larissa from 1996-2001 in a country where club instability and coach culls are the norm. Valkanis was saddened when pressed by Kosmina about social media rumours he wanted the top job after the 3-1 loss to Central Coast in Gosford last Friday. The actions of faceless "trolls" made his blood boil. "You are not a real supporter when you hide behind social media and websites," said Valkanis, adding he would let the dust settle before speaking again with Kosmina. Bianco removed Kosmina in 2007 for comments made in the aftermath of the A-League Grand Final loss to Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium. The memories came flooding back as Kosmina's second reign at Hindmarsh ended. "No, I wasn't surprised," Bianco said. We had some interesting time working together. Kossie could be a good coach but also had his own ideas about the job. United chairman Griffin bristles at criticism of club culture and Kosmina's description of management decision-making as "reactive, impulsive and inconsistent." Griffin was voted unanimously to be a club representative on the joint A-League-club management committee and was appointed by Football Federation Australia as club lead negotiator for the collective bargaining agreement. "It is hardly an indication of not having the confidence of the serious players in Australian football," he said. All the people who make decisions in this game appear to have a very different opinion to web trolls. The club was losing $4m a year. We have greatly reduced the operating deficit, have five 18-year-old South Australians on the list and expect to break even in 2013-14. Critics point to the $2 million, four-year contract extension offered inside Coolen's first, 2010-11 season as proof of football naivety and contributing to the absence of a concrete deal for Kosmina. Kosmina felt undermined and frustrated - retreating to the backyard renovation he started before the call came to replace Coolen 14 months prior. The former Socceroos striker also told the Sunday Mail "he has no other jobs in the pipeline." Former Reds media manager, now Fox Sports commentator Dom Rinaldo added: "Since the new owners have come there have been a few problems with players and coaches while the connection with the community is non existent which could be because of different cultures at work. John Kosmina shouldn't resign, the board should. A protracted legal process resulted in Adelaide United paying $400,000 to Coolen in an out-of-court settlement last month. The Dutchman was demoted to youth team coach 11 games into his augmented deal with the Reds languishing at the foot of the table. While the Coolen saga was a bad look, Griffin says it won't impact on the search for a new coach. "We are still financially prudent," Griffin said. We will make provision to get the right coach to take the club forward. We have spent as much on players as any club from the personal resources of the four shareholders. We were the only club with an Australian and foreign marquee this season in Dario Vidosic and Serg van Dijk. Kosmina's decision to ignore $300,000 striker van Dijk this campaign - who averaged a goal every second A-League game - caused tension with management. Griffin told the Sunday Mail last week that the departure of van Dijk in January to Indonesia and club champion Zenon Caravella was all the coach's call. Kosmina was gone the next day. Former Socceroo and inaugural United football director John Perin said no coach should be pressured over selection or internal team matters. There was no reason to doubt Kossie, they were second on the ladder. Had I been in the same position I probably wouldn't have lasted as long," said former Adelaide City coach Perin. The team was winning and selection is his prerogative. If it isn't broken you don't fix it. I would like to see a culture with respect. I guess the fact they are not football people can have a bearing but when you put money in you expect to have a say. If there was a lack of football sensibility it showed in the transfer of favourite son and Reds skipper Travis Dodd to Perth Glory before the 2011-12 season. On face value, Coolen's decision not to match Perth's two-year deal with an option for a third appeared justifiable for a 30-year-old midfielder. However, Dodd was the most visible face of the club - its fourth skipper after succeeding Valkanis in 2008. Dodd was adored by fans and worth his weight in gold at the turnstiles. "He was a great player, a leader, very influential and respected," noted Valkanis. Former Crystal Palace forward Carl Veart says Dodd's departure affected team dynamics but hopes the bond with fans can be resurrected. "Everyone at the club realises they should have kept him," said former Reds striker Veart. He was a local boy who brought a lot of people through the door, had passion for football, the club and state. He went out of his way to look after a lot of kids, you get very few people in the game like Travis. The club was losing money and the new owners have tried to make it a viable business but it is whether they have lost that contact with the community. Bianco wants peace at the club he lavished with all he had until the 2008 credit crisis forced his withdrawal. "We did try to have everyone as a family environment and that's what it was at the time but a lot of money is needed," he said. I congratulate the owners on what they are doing to keep the club ownership in South Australia. Bianco called on all Reds supporters to unite and back interim coach Valkanis. "With Valkanis there they can only go up, he will do a great job if they give him a chance," he said. They need someone who will be stable, which Michael Valkanis is, and everyone working together. Valkanis believes it's possible to rekindle the chemistry and culture that made United the envy of all A-League clubs. Western Sydney Wanderers have this season tapped into the code's heartland - reminiscent of the way United started from scratch in 2003. A prime example of football kinship from the top down. "I will never forget the inaugural year at United, playing in front of 14,000 people," he said. We have to be united as one - supporters, players and administrators. That 2003-04 season was special because that is what actually happened.