Ferguson disgusted over Fury axing

Former North Queensland coach Ian Ferguson has labelled his treatment during his
final months at the Fury as "disgusting", laying the blame on former owner Don
Matheson and ex A-League boss Archie Fraser.
The Fury were a financial basket case in their inaugural A-League campaign, with
Matheson, who was said to be losing around $50,000 a week, walking out on the club
after just one season.
Football Federation Australia took over the reins but Ferguson and his players,
including marquee signing Robbie Fowler, had their contracts terminated and were
told to seek new employment.
Ferguson, who was lured to Perth as an assistant to Glory coach Dave Mitchell, is
still seething at how his time ended at North Queensland.
"It's nothing to do with the players or the coaching staff, the only hard feelings
I've got was the manner we were treated, my wife and my family and certain players,"
Ferguson said.
"I felt a little bit disgusted by Don Matheson, who was the owner at the time.
"He never even had the guts to give us a call or let us know what was going on.
"And then you had Archie Fraser, who was ... at FFA at the time, (he) was nothing
short of disgraceful as well in his manner.
"... It was disgusting the way we were treated and that sticks in my throat a little
bit."
Fowler, who was also snapped up by the Glory, and Ferguson are locked in a legal
battle with both North Queensland and FFA over the termination of their contracts.
Ferguson's outburst will no doubt add extra spice to Friday night's clash between
Perth and North Queensland at nib Stadium (formerly ME Bank Stadium).
The Fury, who lost many of their best players amid the financial turmoil, are hot
favourites to take out this season's wooden spoon.
But Ferguson, who against all odds guided North Queensland to seventh place last
season, said the wooden spoon tag would actually benefit the Fury.
"That was the same when we started," Ferguson said.
"I think it worked in our favour a little bit because we were (labelled) no-hopers
when I was up there and the bunch of boys I had gave us everything week in, week
out.
"The new team will be the same.
"We were always given the wooden spoon and all I wanted was to be competitive.
"I can assure you they'll be very similar to the boys that I had, they'll be up for
the challenge and they'll be looking forward to proving a lot of people wrong."
Perth will be without a host of key players for the season opener.
Defender Andy Todd (knee) and midfielder Victor Sikora (hip) are out injured while
defender Chris Coyne's loan deal in China means he won't be available to play again
for the Glory until January.
To add to the club's woes, striker Michael Baird and defender Josh Mitchell are
expected to miss at least the first two rounds while they await clearance from their
former Romanian club Universitatea Craiova.