IF you think things have been a bit chaotic at Tony Popovic’s Turkish club Karabukspor on the field, it’s nothing to the shenanigans off it — which might go some way to explaining the run of poor results since Popovic took over in October.

Though a new president was finally elected this week, more than a month after the last one quit, money problems are becoming so acute that players have filed grievance notices with FIFA alleging non-payment of wages.

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After the board of Karabukspor walked out as a group less than a month after Popovic’s arrival, three times the club tried to elect a new leadership but no one could be persuaded to take it on. Lawyer Hakan Yilmazm, seen as a safe pair of hands, decided the issues were just too intractable and backed off.

Now businessman Ziya Ünsal has taken over, and will have to decide on Popovic’s fate after losing eight league games from nine since quitting the Wanderers on the eve of the A-League season to move to Turkey.

It’s understood Popa had been promised the chance to sign reinforcements in January, but with the team six points adrift at the bottom, he has to hope Ünsal will continue to back him - and the next two games are against sides placed seventh and third.

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EARLIER this week The Daily Telegraph revealed a record number of A-League players are off-contract this season, but there’s also one high profile coach whose contract is nearly up - Kevin Muscat. Interesting times are looming for the Melbourne Victory board, with their coach under pressure after a dodgy start to the season.

While Muscat has won an A-League title, the FFA Cup and has another grand final appearance to his name, if Victory’s poor season continues will the board be in a position to entertain contract extension talks?

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IS Tom Rogic on his way out of Celtic? Curiously, the Socceroos striker was left out of the past two matches for his Scottish club, first against Hibernian and then Hamilton. Mystery surrounds his absence, which doesn’t appear to be injury related. In fact, Rogic has played just two full club games in the past two months. Last season his manager Brendan Rodgers described Rogic as “a big talent”, but if he’s not on his way out of the club, he’s certainly fallen out of favour with his Rodgers.

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STAR Sydney FC midfielder Josh Brillante is being eyed off by an MLS club. Brillante, who’s one half of the A-League’s star midfield pairing with Brandon O’Neill, remains eager to return abroad after his two-year stint in Italy.

The MLS club wants to sign Brillante in January, ahead of the 2018 season which starts in March. An MLS return is also an option for Tim Cahill, who is free to join a club in January after mutually terminating his Melbourne City contract.

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THERE was a nice touch at the Sydney FC staff Christmas party on Monday, when those present were all presented with an A-League winner’s medal for their part in the Sky Blues’ title triumph.

The medals were handed out by new CEO Danny Townsend, adding to the good impression he has made since the start of October.

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LOTS of former players open academies and football schools, but we rate the far-sightedness shown by former Sydney defender Jake Timpano. His SoccerMan schools have become a fixture in the Wollongong region, but now he and his brother have added an educational App for pre-schoolers.

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IT’S a bit ironic to see the Mariners this week promoting Saturday’s game with the Wanderers at the Imperial Shopping Centre in Gosford.

Why so? Because the shopping centre is owned through the Lederer Property venture by none other than a certain Paul Lederer, who also owns the Wanderers. Mind you, as one wag pointed out, “Paul owns half of Gosford these days”.

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THERE aren’t too many brothers in the A-League, but we reckon we might have stumbled upon a hitherto unknown relationship. Could Daniel De Silva and Michael Zullo, of the Mariners and Sydney FC respectively, been separated at birth?