SYDNEY, Aug 15, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Former England and Liverpool striker
Robbie Fowler claimed Saturday he was wrongfully dismissed by Brisbane Roar,
saying the Australian club “turned gangster” on him and assistant Tony Grant.
Fowler was appointed coach last year and overhauled the squad, lifting them
to fourth in the A-League before the season was suspended in March due to the
coronavirus pandemic.
He and ex-Everton midfielder Grant returned to England and the club
announced in late June they had parted ways, citing “the current and ongoing
coronavirus situation”, while noting that “family comes first”.
It led to Irish striker Roy O’Donovan, who played under Fowler at Brisbane,
branding him “selfish”.
But the Liverpool legend told the Sydney Morning Herald his contract was
abruptly terminated over comments made in a television interview, where he
said he felt his return was “not a priority” for the club.
The 45-year-old insisted he wanted to see out his two-year contract and did
not walk away.
“They just suddenly turned gangster on us,” he told the newspaper. “Lots of
people have opinions about me but one thing I’m not is selfish. I had a job
to do and I wanted to finish that job.
“I wasn’t given the chance to go back and show people what we potentially
could have done.”
He continued: “I gave everything for the year for Brisbane Roar. My family
were back and forth.
“Getting labelled selfish and a quitter and other things, it’s very poor
play. I’m certainly not selfish and I’m not a quitter.”
Fowler, who was in his first full-time coaching job, said he had lodged
papers with world governing body FIFA’s dispute resolution tribunal, seeking
damages.
Brisbane Roar did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Fowler, capped 26 times by England, played 369 matches for Liverpool,
scoring 183 goals in two stints between 1993 and 2007. He also played for
Leeds United, Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers.