(Updates with club statement)
SYDNEY, June 29 (Reuters). Former English striker Robbie Fowler will not return to take over Brisbane Roar when the A-League season starts again next month, the Australian club said on Monday.
The Liverpool native and his assistant Tony Grant went to England in March when the season was interrupted due to the outbreak of the corona virus.
“We are disappointed that the global pandemic has influenced our plans together, but fully understand that the family comes first in these difficult times,” said Vice Chairman Chris Fong in a statement.
“Robbie not only ensured stability, but also a refreshing injection of knowledge and insight into the roar.”
Fong previously told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper that Welsh assistant coach Darren Davies and club academy manager Warren Moon would share the janitorial coaching duties and that the next permanent coach would be Australian.
Fowler had the experience of the 2011/12 season as a player coach with the Thai club Muangthong United only in his resume when he took over the roar at the beginning of the season.
He led the club, which had taken second place last season, to fourth place when the games were interrupted with six rounds of the regular season and the remaining championship playoffs.
“On behalf of myself and Tony, I would like to thank the club for the opportunity and the Brisbane Roar fans for the warm welcome and support for me and the team. We are very proud of what we have achieved, ”said Fowler in the statement.
Australia has been relatively successful at curbing the spread of COVID-19, but travel restrictions between states remain, and anyone arriving from abroad has to isolate themselves for 14 days.
The A-League will resume behind closed doors on July 16. The regular season will be completed by the end of August. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editor of Peter Rutherford)
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