Responding to recent assertions of offers on the table for the stricken A-League giant, Fong said owner Nirwan Bakrie was committed to taking the Roar back to past glories rather than trying to recoup some of the estimated $30 million invested in the club over the past eight years.
The Roar board, currently in the midst of an exhaustive hunt for a long-term successor to departed coach John Aloisi, are embarrassed by not only the team’s dire form this season but also the tally of red and yellow cards.
Brisbane have amassed 48 yellows cards this season, nine more than second worst offenders Melbourne Victory. And they top the red card tally too with five, two in front of Adelaide.
Uppermost in the minds of the recruitment team charged with appointing a new man is the desire to turn the clock back to a time when the club were known more for easy-on-the-eye aesthetics and fair play principles than the amount of penalties conceded and cards accumulated.
Lying second bottom and with one win in 17 games this season going into Friday’s clash with Sydney FC, Fong described the club’s plight as “terrible”.
But he insisted the Bakrie Group wouldn’t blink.
“There are always agents ringing up and saying they have a deal but we’re not interested,” Fong said.
“It’s not even how much. It’s simply that we’re not interested.
“Nirwan is not interested in selling ... he’s more concerned about building a performing team.
“There might be people out there saying we’ve rejected offers but I don’t know of any because we’ve had no discussions on it.
“The talks we’re having are all about the future. We thought we had a good team on paper but haven’t been able to perform and I don’t think John Aloisi had answers either.
“We tried to give him as much support as we could. We thought we’d reset everything and had given the football department everything they’d asked for, but unfortunately this is the outcome.
“It’s a terrible situation but I remember times when Melbourne Victory weren’t doing well and Sydney weren’t doing well. There are cycles in football.”
Fong said the club wouldn’t rush to appoint a coach, with the likes of Adelaide United’s German mentor Marco Kurz linked with the vacancy.
“We’re going through a process and I’m awaiting to hear some updates soon from the team we’ve put in place to source a new coach,” Fong added.
“We’re not rushing the process, and it’s something we need to get right.
“(Caretaker) Darren Davies has been shouldering a lot of responsibility and pressure in taking the reins and sometimes interim coaches get a bounce back that you never expect but unfortunately that hasn’t happened. It is what it is.”
Last weekend’s astounding 4-3 loss to Adelaide, a game which saw Brisbane squander a three-goal lead and suffer two red cards, was symptomatic of their season.
“We’re going to rebuild and get back to where we were as a club,” vowed Fong.
“I know a lot of fans feel let down and we’re surprised to be in this position. I know they will support us but we have to pull our socks up and realign.
“Perhaps it’s time for new blood and a new approach. We want to regain the culture of the past, and go back to a beautiful attacking style of football which our fans know us for.
“We’re seeing far too many penalties given away, along with yellow and red cards. We’ve spoken about that at boardroom level and we don’t like it.
“We want to again be known for our flair as well as fair play. Those are the standards and ethics we’re after, and it’s part of the brief in appointing a new coach.
“We’re taking a long-term view. Nirwan still watches every game, and while he’s disappointed - he’s been around the game for 35 years now - he loves it and is committed to getting the right culture into the club for the future.”
The accent is also on youth development and turning the club into a creche for young talent.
“We’re also taking our youth structures very seriously,” Fong added. “Our Academy, which is in its first year, is the only one outside of Western Sydney which doesn’t charge the players.”
