By Murray Wenzel and Warwick Barr
Warren Moon has paid the price for Brisbane’s slide down the A-League Men table with confirmation he has been sacked as the Roar’s coach.
Brisbane said Moon, who took over from Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler towards the end of the 2019/20 season, would be replaced with immediate effect.
Warren Moon, head coach of the Brisbane Roar, after the 2-1 away loss to Adelaide in round 15 of the A-League at Coopers Stadium on February 4.Credit:Mark Brake/Getty Images
The Roar have just three wins from 17 ALM games this season and have scored just 13 goals – six fewer than any other side.
Moon’s sacking follows a 1-1 draw with ALM heavyweights Sydney FC on Saturday, stretching their winless streak to seven ALM matches dating to early January.
In that time, the Roar have slipped from inside the top six to now occupy 11th spot on the ALM ladder, just one point clear of last-placed Western United.
The club was busy during this month’s transfer window, recruiting Serbian striker Stefan Scepovic and welcoming back Robbie Kruse among seven new faces brought to the club.
But Kruse is yet to play in his Brisbane return, while Scepovic saw only late minutes in his debut against Sydney FC.
“My frustration is that there is a nucleus of a good team here but we can’t quite get them all on the park at the moment at the right time,” Moon said in early February.
“I am disappointed with that because it wasn’t so long ago we were third with a game in hand and now we have a battle on our hands to fight our way back to close to the six.
“We have to work and fight our way out of this. One result could change things. The A-League can change quickly.”
It’s expected an interim coach will be announced on Tuesday to lead the side against the ninth-placed Perth Glory at Dolphin Stadium in Redcliffe on Sunday.
Moon took the Roar to ALM finals appearances in 2021 and 2022 and leaves with 22 wins, 22 draws and 31 losses from 75 matches in charge.
The 40-year-old was a foundation player for the club during the ALM’s inaugural season in 2005/06.
“The club would like to thank Warren for his service in the role over the past three years,” a Roar statement said.
