Adelaide United CEO Michael Petrillo's letter to Josep Gombau.

Dear Josep,

When I realised that there wasn’t anything else we could do to keep you here it saddened me immensely.

In the two years you have spent here you have helped establish a real club football philosophy and culture which can now endure and be built upon. You have provided so much enjoyment to our fans and ignited in some and reignited in others the passion for our club.

You took a big gamble just as we did and since then have worked hard to establish what was only a discussion and a theory two years ago into a reality.

Despite the sentiment and personal feelings even a CEO needs to take a moment to reflect.

Not much more than 24 hours have passed since the announcement and we have re-booted the project, it must continue on its path. The club will commence its new season shortly and will soon start its defence of the FFA Cup in Darwin, as well as later in the season play-off for a Champions League spot.

All three competitions will bring their own challenges without you here. However our club has a coaching team that is immersed in our philosophy now, they are extremely hard-working and talented, and with the ambition and determination to achieve its objectives.

The Adelaide United Football Club will commence the campaign with a squad of professional, very talented and ambitious footballers who we are sure will give everything they have for the new coach and continue with fervour on the path that we started two years ago.

Josep, you have been a part of the new history of Adelaide United and I know that wherever you are and whatever you do there will always be a special place for "The Reds" in your heart. I am sure that upon hearing of any successes we may enjoy in the future it will always bring a smile to your face.

Guillermo, Blaza, Pau, Micky, Kingy and I, together with all the players, the Board and the staff, will continue to work diligently, tirelessly with ardour and without wavering from the objectives put into place two years ago, because that is no less than the Adelaide United Football Club and the legion of Reds fans deserve.

Everyone who works at this club knows they must work towards establishing a great tradition with everything we do and in every moment we are at this great club.

Josep, “vale”, goodbye for now and thank you for everything you have done.

Come on you reds...

Michael