ADELAIDE United's independent coaching selection panel declared they never had a chance to implement its vision for the Reds.

But in another development today Reds officials announced a new coaching panel headed by Adelaide football director Michael Petrillo and members of Football Federation Australia.

"All coaching applications are now with the club,'' declared the Reds statement.

"The club expresses its appreciation for the preliminary work done by the coaching selection panel.

"The club believes this appointment is a critical one and will continue to seek to appoint the best available candidate to take the club forward.

"The club has a preference for an experienced coach for an initial two year period.''

It was a disappointing end for former coaching panel members ex Socceroos Craig Foster, John Perin and Alex Tobin.

The trio quit on Wednesday night after Mike Valkanis was announced as the club's assistant coach just hours before.

Foster, Perin and Tobin have more than 1500 games experience at the top level and have been involved in the game as players and observers for a combined total of about 100 years.

They voluntarily donated their time and expertise and were according to Tobin united with common goals.

The panel was left speechless after discovering Valkanis was named as the Reds assistant through the media.

After asking the board to supply written confirmation that the panel would be responsible in selecting the next Reds boss from the very first meeting in February the panel had talked openly about the new coach.

The independents recommended that the new Reds chief should have to right to appoint his own coaching staff.

Incredibly Reds owner and board member Bruno Marveggio was in transit to China on business at the time the club released a media announcement that interim coach Valkanis would stay as the Reds No. 2.

Within an hour of the shock announcement the panel had decided to resign before the trio could contact Marveggio.

Marveggio only found out about the Valkanis news when he landed in Singapore at about 7.30pm Adelaide time on Wednesday night.

"The panel was to select a shortlist of head coaches and then the decision was made outside when an agreement with the panel,'' Marveggio said from China today.

"It's left up to others now.

"But the panel had a lot of good stuff in place.

"It's a pity that their work hasn't come to fruition.''

Marveggio will return on April 19.





Originally published as New selection panel for Reds