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Julian de Guzman saw it as a player, a coach, then as Ottawa Fury FC’s general manager – players putting it into cruise control, too satisfied with guaranteed paydays.

Now de Guzman is hoping to prevent players from taking the easy way out and getting paid for it. So he’s added incentive bonuses to contracts.

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“Some players were treating this like a retirement home, that’s how it’s been in the past,” said de Guzman earlier this week. “Guys were too content. In too many cases, players thought they were bigger than the club.”

Said Fury FC coach Nikola Popovic: “The culture we found here – it was OK to lose. (The thinking was) ‘I receive my money no matter what – if I win or lose.’ ”

Photo by Steve Kingsman / Steve Kingsman/Freestyle Photography

So de Guzman is trying to ensure the team gets plenty of bang for its buck, especially with the star international players, the guys he calls “difference makers.”

Said de Guzman. “I’m looking at some of the contracts and everybody was getting their money up front and I don’t think that’s right. That’s part of creating that culture in the locker room – if you guys fight, you’ll be rewarded. If you come to me and say, ‘Hey, I want $100,000.’ I’m, ‘OK, I’ll give you $50,000, you can earn the other $50,000.’