ARCHIE Fraser says FFA's decision last year to appoint Rini Coolen as Adelaide United's coach was a surprise.

The former A-League chief has revealed Coolen did not pass the first round selection criteria when he applied for defunct North Queensland Fury's coaching job in 2009.

Yet a year later the Dutchman was brought in to replace Aurelio Vidmar, who Fraser said had constructed a solid foundation backed by its front office team.

Fraser - a former Scottish professional footballer and ex-chief executive of AFL club St Kilda - said Coolen was appointed by an FFA team which included technical director and fellow Dutchman Han Berger.

At the time Adelaide was in the interim hands of FFA.

"You sit back and watch this crisis coming from a mile away," Fraser said.

"In essence it appears Rini as coach has total control of the club, who comes and who goes and it appears this has been allowed to happen under the new owners."

Fraser was on Fury's panel to appoint a coach in a three-man team which included Berger and football savvy identity Jonathan Crisp from World Sport Group Asia.

"We were looking at international and local coaches who were on the way up and Coolen just didn't fit the criteria for Fury," Fraser said.

"We judged on recent past history and that's why Franz Straka won the job ahead of a strong short list which included Adelaide assistant Phil Stubbins."

Coolen has come under fire, with most of his 10 new signings still not living up to expectation as Adelaide sits ninth, criticised heavily by former Socceroos and has a game plan riddled with holes.

The loss of foundation A-League players former skipper Travis Dodd, ex-vice-captain Lucas Pantelis and Robert Cornthwaite, Marcos Flores, Iain Fyfe, Paul Reid and Adam Hughes has been met with howls of discontent from passionate fans.

Former assistants Phil Stubbins and SA legend Carl Veart also disappeared.

Coolen's shake-up has backfired with Adelaide recording its two worst defeats - home and away - as crowds nervously dip to new lows.

Fraser, who resigned from the FFA post in April last year, before the FFA moved Vidmar to Olyroos chief and assistant Socceroos coach, was concerned for the Reds' future when the change of guard was announced.

The timing of Vidmar's promotion was perceived as odd given the club was on the hunt for a new owner, well managed and financially stable, Fraser said.

Vidmar regained respect for the Reds three months after finishing last in 2010 when he guided the club to a thrilling last 16 exit in the AFC Champions League.

Fraser also said Adelaide's management structure was sound after overseeing the operations when Nick Bianco handed the franchise to the FFA in 2009.