Football
Paul Murphy 7y

Aurelio Vidmar leaves Bangkok Glass by mutual consent after one year

Former Adelaide United head coach Aurelio Vidmar has parted ways with Thai League (T1) club Bangkok Glass by "mutual consent" after just under a year in the Thai capital.

Vidmar leaves with his team sitting fifth in the table, 10 points behind leaders Buriram United. The club suggested that there had been differing views on how to take the team forward, resulting in the decision for both parties to go their separate ways.

A statement on Bangkok Glass' official website read: "Vidmar's tenure was brought to the end after BGFC deemed that the 50-year-old Australian did not feature in the team's plans for next season, due to the difference in direction under which to take the club in the long term."

The decision to let the former Socceroos' skipper go comes after the Glass Rabbits' failure to mount a sustained challenge for the T1 title, having finished in third place in 2016 -- their best position since 2009. He was appointed in August of last year, having previously managed the Australia Under-23 side.

Vidmar's final match in charge was a 3-0 home victory over Navy FC on Saturday evening in front of a sparse crowd at the Leo Stadium.

More damage may have been done by last Wednesday's capitulation at Bangkok United. The visitors led 3-1 and then 4-3 before two goals in added time won the game for the hosts.

Bangkok Glass have, as usual, been impressive on their artificial home turf. Home victories over Buriram United and Bangkok United also put an end to last year's inability to beat the top teams in the league, and Vidmar's men have been the only team to inflict an away defeat on the league leaders this season.

However, away form has often been disappointing, with just four points taken from the last six games on the road.

Vidmar's side have endured an injury-hit campaign, with several key players spending significant spells on the sidelines. This has included former Socceroos' defender Matt Smith, prolific Costa Rican striker Ariel Rodriguez and Thai international winger Sarawut Masuk.

It could be argued that Vidmar has made the best of his available resources to keep his side in the top five. But the club's directors have decided that, with a three-week international break coming up, the time is right to bring in a new head coach.

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