The following is a statement from the Adelaide United Football Club in regards to the situation involving Paul Reid…
Adelaide United feels constrained to place on the public record the facts that led to the omission of Paul Reid from the team to play against the Wellington Phoenix on 18 February 2011.
Paul Reid was selected to play in that match. On Wednesday Paul Reid expressed to Head Coach Rini Coolen his dissatisfaction at the failure of Adelaide United to positively confirm that the club would release him from his contract as of 23 February 2011 so as to enable him to play for Sydney FC in the forthcoming Asian Champions League. It is a condition of registration to enable Reid to play that he had been released by Adelaide United from his existing contract by no later than 23 February 2011.
As a consequence of what Reid believed was an unreasonable refusal by Coolen to agree to that request, he advised Coolen that he would not be available to play in the selected team against Wellington Phoenix on the basis that he was not in the right state of mind to do so. Adelaide United FC Chairman, Mr Greg Griffin, telephoned Paul on the evening of 16 February 2011 and told him that under no circumstances would Adelaide United agree to release him prior to 23 February 2011 so as to enable him to play for Sydney FC in the Asian Champions League.
It was made clear to Reid that this decision stood regardless of the result against the Wellington Phoenix. Reid was told that he could either continue with Adelaide United notwithstanding his decision to make himself unavailable for the Wellington Phoenix match or he would not be playing football for any club, including Sydney FC in the Asian Champions League, until the expiration of his current contract which expires on 31 March 2011.
Griffin left it with Reid on the basis that he should reconsider his earlier decision to not play against Wellington Phoenix. Paul has regrettably decided that he will not make himself available to play for Adelaide United in the forthcoming finals match and as such he has been replaced in the team by Vice-Captain Lucas Pantelis.
The playing squad has been fully appraised of the position taken by the Club, which is that it has an obligation to field the best possible team in the forthcoming finals series. Paul is a player who would have been selected in the finals series. Adelaide United will not permit any individual player to place his own interests above that of the Club and the squad. Adelaide United remains resolute in its position that it has made a decision that is in the best interests of the Club, its sponsors and supporters. This Club is intent on building a culture that will make Adelaide United a successful club both in Australia and Asia for many years to come. Adelaide United will not make decisions based upon expedience or threats of adverse comments from players or agents who expect it to walk away from clear contractual positions because it suits the player to do so.
