“Don’t sign a new contract with Everton because Fergie is after you” – Jack Rodwell’s date with destiny

In May 1964, Everton FC arrived in Australia as reigning English champions but it took forty six years for the club to return Downunder in 2010.

On that tour, a young England starlet, Jack Rodwell’s life changed forever when he met his life partner at a charity dinner in Sydney, attended by the Everton squad, including Tim Cahill.

It was no coincidence that the father of his wife, Alana, Rene Licata, was the former Marconi and Australian youth striker who delivered that famous cross for Frank Farina to level the scores at 1-1 in the opening match of the World Youth Championships in Mexico City, 1983 in front of 110,000 spectators at the Aztec Stadium against the home team Mexico.

Licata had worked in conjunction with Cahill to organise the charity event and if Alana hadn’t attended on the night, Jack Rodwell would never have called Australia his second home.

Notably, before he signed an extension to his Everton contract in 2010, Rodwell heard the whisper that Alex Ferguson was keen to sign him for Manchester United but rather than take the risk of missing out altogether, he signed on the dotted line at Goodison Park.

Rodwell was regarded as ”the Next Big Thing” early in his career but a spate of injuries and indifferent treatment by football managers have hampered his progress. When the opportunity presented itself to come to Australia in November 2021 to play for the Western Sydney Wanderers, Rodwell grabbed it with open arms.

At the moment, Rodwell is a free agent but is considering his options as he waits for the Wanderers to offer him a new contract for the 2022/23 A-League campaign.

In this interview with Roger Sleeman, Jack Rodwell talks about his life in English football, the highs and lows of his professional career and impressions of the A-League.

ROGER SLEEMAN

You were signed by Everton at a young age, but was Liverpool ever interested in you?

JACK RODWELL

Strangely, my Dad was a Liverpool fan but I was signed by Everton as a seven year old.

Prior to this, my brother and I received free tickets from Everton and we went with my Dad to their home games.

I had gone to Liverpool when I was nearly seven years old but they said you’re a bit young so come back next season.

Ironically, Everton saw me play two weeks later and told me go to the Belfield training ground one night per week and I was asked to stay.

R. S.

In May 1964, Everton arrived in Australia as the reigning England champions.

Are you familiar with former stars from that squad like Jimmy Gabriel, Ray Wilson, Roy Vernon, Alex Scott, Alex Young, Gordon West, Derek Temple and Brian Labone who were part of that touring squad.

J.R.

I’m only familiar with Brian Labone, the great Everton and England central defender, who was a household name at the club.

R.S.

What are your memories of Everton’s tour of Australia in July, 2010?

J.R.

We landed in Sydney, went for a jog on Bondi Beach and put our feet in the water which was like an ice pack .

A few days later, we played Brisbane Roar, followed by Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC.

I was fortunate to play in all three games and scored in two of them which was a great boost for me to get into the first team.

In the previous season, I wasn’t playing regularly in the first team so this tour was an important preseason for me.

Jack Rodwell – Image supplied

R.S.

There were some pretty impressive players in that squad.

Your comments on some of them.

J.R.

Louis Saha, the French striker was one of the best I’ve ever played with and he was crazy, fast and had two good feet.

Phil Jagielka, former England defender, was not big but strong and fast. He came to the club as a central midfielder but often older players are relegated to the backline.

Distin was massive, like a beast to opponents and was so strong in his gym workouts.

Phil Neville was an inspiring captain who looked after the younger players which I was always thankful for.

Ken Hibbert was a local product who was one of the best fullbacks going forward and a great tackler.

Tim Cahill was a great man to have in the dressing room as he always gave 100% and was the first man on the team sheet.

Manager, David Moyes was brilliant for me and after I came into the squad as a centre back, he converted me to a holding midfield role because he preferred old heads in the centre of defence.

R.S.

Do you regret not waiting for the call from Sir Alex Ferguson before you signed that contract extension with Everton in 2010?

J.R.

Somebody had said ,” Don’t sign a new contract with Everton because Fergie is after you”.

However, my parents advised me not to risk it as they thought he could always sign me from Everton.

Also, I wouldn’t have met my wife if I hadn’t toured with Everton in 2010.

R.S.

What was the background to you signing for Manchester City in 2012 and tell us about your experiences.

J.R.

I was in a preseason camp in 2012 with Everton and the club was contacted by City who wanted to sign me.

Roberto Mancini was the manager of City at the time.

It’s a great club but I sustained a series of hamstring injuries which prevented me from playing many matches .

However, I played in the 2013 FA Cup Final when we were beaten by Wigan.

Before the Cup Final, I had a meeting with Mancini and David Platt to discuss my future at the club after I had scored two goals in the last game of the League season.

Unfortunately, Mancini was sacked at the end of that season and Brian Kidd was appointed as caretaker manager before Manuel Pellegrini took over into the start of the new season.

I didn’t receive any favours from Pellegrini as he brought some South American players in and he also excluded Joe Hart, Jamie Milner, Mika Richards and Scott Sinclair.

I was forced to leave the club , even though we won the League and I received a winner’s medal.

R.S.

Your next club was Sunderland.

Can you relate your experience there?

J.R.

I was still only twenty three at the time and Gus Poyet was the manager who just wanted me to play games.

In the first two years, we were in the EPL .However, we were relegated to the Championship the next season and as the highest paid player, they did everything to get me off the wage bill.

I wanted to play in the EFL, not the Championship, but instead of showcasing me in the shop window by playing me, they attempted to move me out of the dressing room to find a club.

I wanted to play but they wouldn’t even allow me to train so I had another season on the same salary.

Manager, Chris Coleman was asked,” You’re losing games ,so where’s Jack”?

He then put me in the reserve team and we were relegated to League 1 in my fourth season.

I finally left the club in June, 2018 when my contract was terminated.

Jack Rodwell
Jack Rodwell in form for Western Sydney Wanderers

R.S.

What led to your decision to come to play in the A- League with the Wanderers in November 2021, and what did you expect of it?

J.R.

I hadn’t played for nine months before coming to Australia so I was very keen to give it a try after Carl Robinson approached me.

I wasn’t too familiar with the A-League, apart from what my father-in-law had told me.

I just wanted to play regularly again.

R.S.

What was your relationship with Carl Robinson like, and was he treated unfairly by the club?

J.R.

I knew about his playing record with Wolves so he had a good pedigree but when you start losing, the fans start to whinge and blame the manager.

It’s not that we didn’t have a good squad according to the local experts but as results became worse, the club decided to relieve Robinson from his position.

R.S.

What were your thoughts on the strength of the Wanderers squad last season and should you have done better?

J.R.

In Dimi Petratos, Steve Ugarkovic, Tomer Hemed, Adame Traore, Keanu Baccus, Bernie Ibini, Terry Antonis and Rhys Williams we had seasoned campaigners.

Williams injury early in the season was a great loss to the team but we still had enough depth in the squad to perform more consistently.

In several matches we were dominating in the first half but took our foot off the pedal in the second to let opponents back into the game.

R.S.

Do you feel Mark Rudan needs more time to achieve his plans for the club and were you happy with his coaching philosophy and management?

J.R.

He definitely needs more time after taking over the role well into the season.

Also, a lot of players are out of contract and he will want to build his own squad for next season like he did at Wellington and Western United.

He has a good grasp of the game from his extensive playing and coaching experience so hopefully next season will be fruitful for him.

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PFA issues legal threat to Premier League over new financial rules

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has issued a legal threat to the Premier League, warning of potential legal action if new financial rules are passed without union consultation and approval.

The PFA alleges that the league and its clubs have deliberately withheld critical information about the proposed squad cost rules (SCR) and top-to-bottom anchoring (TBA). These changes, according to the union, could severely impact player wages and club finances.

Legal Warning Over SCR and TBA

The Premier League and its 20 clubs voted on the proposed rules during a meeting on 13 February. In a letter addressed to the league and its stakeholders, the PFA’s legal team stated they “anticipate being instructed to commence legal proceedings” if the rules are approved without adequate consultation with the union.

The union has demanded a written guarantee from the league by 4 pm on 11 February, confirming its intention to fully consult the PFA on the matter. Failure to do so will also trigger legal action.

The PFA described the proposed squad cost rules and top-to-bottom anchoring system as “fundamentally flawed” and expressed deep concerns about their potential consequences for players and clubs alike.

What Are the SCR and TBA?

The squad cost rules (SCR) would limit clubs to spending a maximum of 85 per cent of their revenue on squad-related expenses, aligning with similar rules introduced by UEFA. From next season, UEFA plans to reduce its revenue-to-spending cap to 70 per cent for clubs involved in its competitions.

The top-to-bottom anchoring (TBA) system, however, is more contentious. It would enforce a strict cap on how much a club can spend on squad costs, calculated as five times the amount received by the club earning the least from central Premier League funds.

Critics, including the PFA, argue that TBA effectively introduces an indirect cap on player salaries. Some clubs, such as Manchester United and Manchester City, have also expressed opposition to the proposal, fearing it would weaken their ability to compete with elite European teams.

Accusations of Withholding Information

The PFA has accused the Premier League of failing to follow proper consultation protocols, which are required for any matters impacting player wages or conditions.

Under the rules, the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) must consult with the PFA through the Professional Game Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC). Any changes that affect players cannot proceed without the union’s agreement.

However, the PFA’s lawyers, Mills and Reeve, claim the Premier League missed its own deadline to provide an updated version of the SCR before Christmas. Instead, clubs received the document on 9 January—too late for meaningful discussions during a PFNCC meeting held on 8 January.

The union further alleges it only received the full 87-page SCR manual after an ad-hoc PFNCC meeting on 20 January, despite indications that clubs had access to the document as early as July last year.

PFA’s Position on the Financial Rules

The PFA remains firmly opposed to the introduction of TBA, stating it imposes an unnecessary cap on player wages under the guise of financial regulation.

The union believes such measures are not only unfair to players but also risk undermining the competitiveness of Premier League clubs on the international stage.

In their letter to the Premier League’s legal team at Linklaters, the PFA’s lawyers described the handling of the proposed financial rules as “flagrant breaches” of the league’s obligations to consult with the union.

As the 13 February vote has taken place, the tension between the PFA and the Premier League appears to be escalating, with the prospect of legal proceedings looming should the union’s demands for consultation remain unmet.

Australian Championship set to revolutionise domestic football

Football Australia has unveiled the “Australian Championship,” a groundbreaking new competition that promises to reshape the nation’s football landscape.

Officially launching in October 2025, the Championship will serve as a vital bridge between state-based competitions and the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s system, bringing clubs, players, and communities closer together.

This announcement comes on the heels of the October confirmation of the National Second Tier (NST) format, marking a significant milestone in Australian football.

The Australian Championship will provide a national platform for clubs and players to showcase their talent while fostering stronger connections with fans and communities across the country.

Competition Format and Vision

The Australian Championship will feature 16 teams competing in a dynamic format designed to balance competitive integrity and fan engagement. The competition will include:

Group Stage: Four groups of four teams playing home-and-away fixtures.

Elimination Finals: The top two teams from each group advancing to knockout rounds.

Grand Final: The inaugural champion to be crowned in December 2025.

This structure highlights Football Australia’s ambition to create an inclusive, exciting, and commercially sustainable competition that celebrates the depth of Australian football talent.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson spoke on the importance of this announcement for the future of Australian football.

“The Australian Championship is much more than a competition – it’s a national celebration of football; uniting proud historic clubs, emerging talent, and inter-generational community connection. It reflects the core values of Australian football: authenticity, opportunity, and ambition,” Johnson said in the press release.

“This competition will complement the A-League, NPL, and Hahn Australia Cup, providing a connected, meaningful pathway for players and fans alike. Today’s brand launch is a statement of our commitment to grow domestic football in Australia and unlock its full potential.”

Founding Clubs and National Representation

The competition will include eight Foundation Clubs with storied histories, such as APIA Leichhardt FC (NSW), Avondale FC (VIC), Marconi Stallions FC (NSW), Preston Lions FC (VIC), South Melbourne FC (VIC), Sydney Olympic FC (NSW), Sydney United 58 FC (NSW), and Wollongong Wolves FC (NSW), representing some of the strongest footballing traditions in the country.

Joining them will be eight Member Federation clubs drawn from the National Premier Leagues (NPL) across all states and territories.

This model ensures representation from every corner of the national football community, giving grassroots and state-level clubs an opportunity to compete on a larger stage.

Core Pillars of the Australian Championship

The Australian Championship aims to unite Australian football under the following key values:

Authenticity: Honouring historic clubs, iconic venues, and long-standing rivalries.

Discovery: Showcasing emerging talent and rising stars from across the nation.

Connection: Strengthening ties between grassroots, state competitions, and professional pathways.

Pride and Belonging: Celebrating football’s ability to bring players, fans, and communities together.

A New Era for Australian Football

With its launch, the Australian Championship is set to redefine the country’s domestic football ecosystem, creating new opportunities for players, clubs, and fans. Football Australia’s initiative reflects a commitment to building a thriving national competition while staying true to the rich heritage and passion that underpin Australian football.

As October 2025 approaches, anticipation will only grow for what promises to be a transformative moment in the nation’s sporting history.

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