'God' keen to reignite managerial career in ALM
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has declared an interest in reigniting his managerial career in Australia despite a bitter falling out with Brisbane five years ago.
Fowler, 50, spent just over a year in charge of the Roar and took legal action against the A-League Men club at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic over what he claimed was his unfair dismissal.
FIFA eventually ordered Brisbane to pay damages to Fowler, ruling his contract was terminated without just cause during the competition's 2020 shutdown period.
The man known as 'God' on Merseyside has since held head coaching positions in India and Saudi Arabia, and is eager to give management another crack.
"I love the game and I feel as though I've got a lot to give," Fowler said in Melbourne on Tuesday.
"I spent many years doing all my coaching badges and all the correct badges that you need to go represent football clubs.
"There will be an opportunity for me to travel overseas again and if it's in Australia, brilliant. If it's not, then I'll go somewhere else.
"But I love being involved in football and being a part of a football club, and fingers crossed it's soon."
Fowler was one of the biggest names to play in the A-League, spending one season each at North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory from 2009-2011.
The former England striker, who had only previously played club football in the UK, scored 18 goals in 54 ALM appearances.
Fowler clarified he would only return to Australia if the "right opportunity" presented, and suggested time was healing his wounds from the Brisbane fallout.
"I won my case against them and wasn't happy with the way I was treated at the end, but it is what it is," Fowler said.
"I understand a lot of what happened was because sponsors were pulling out of the league.
"I loved my time here and that little bit probably dampened my love of Australia.
"But if I get an opportunity to come over and it's the right opportunity, then I'm all for it."
Fowler still keeps tabs on the ALM, including Melbourne City's tense 1-0 win over arch-rivals Melbourne Victory in last week's grand final.
"I watched the game and I enjoyed it. Melbourne Victory were probably unlucky," Fowler said.
"(City's) performance wasn't great but no one really remembers that. You remember the result."
A current Liverpool ambassador, Fowler made a brief appearance in Melbourne this week at an event hosted by Carlsberg to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Reds' 'Miracle Of Istanbul' UEFA Champions League triumph.
"I love being part of Liverpool," Fowler said.
"I've been blessed with playing with Liverpool for a lot of years and now travelling the world as an ambassador.
"You get to spend a lot of quality time with supporters of the football club and I love it."
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Three years ago, Clint did not run. He's just completed an epic 100km trail event.
Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners. Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners. Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners. Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners.
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘How would you know about crocodiles if you live in Brisbane?': Maverick MP Bob Katter lashes out at Terri Irwin
Maverick Queensland MP Bob Katter has hit back at Terri Irwin after she publicly criticised the Katter's Australian Party (KAP) latest bill to cull crocodiles in the north of the state. Mrs Irwin described the amended proposal as 'lazy and sloppy' earlier in the week and warned it would 'turn the clock back to the dark and destructive days prior to the 1970s'. The bill claims Queensland has seen a giant increase in crocodile numbers, which Terri Irwin disputes, as justification for removing and euthanising crocs found in 'populated' waterways, and enabling hunting safaris on Aboriginal-controlled land. However, on Friday Mr Katter hit back at the animal conservationist, questioning her knowledge of crocodile preservation in Australia. 'Mrs Irwin … said that I'm a dangerous person and it's the only time I've ever agreed with her in my life,' he said in a video posted to Facebook. 'She knows all about crocodiles … well that's rather fascinating for me because she lives in Brisbane and I work with the top crocodile handlers in the world I would argue. 'Versace and the other big fashion houses have huge crocodile farms here.' Mr Katter went on to explain that the best crocodile handlers in the world have 'always been here in Australia'. 'She knows all about it well …. I'm a bit fascinated by that … how would you know about crocodiles if you live in Brisbane?' he said while laughing. 'Oh that's right she's got them all locked up in a cage in Brisbane I'd forgotten about that.' But Mrs Irwin has earlier claimed the amended bill – which imagines currently croc-infested waterways being used recreationally – is 'reckless, ill-informed and dangerous on so many levels'. In a 14-page long submission, Irwin argued a false sense of security may be created by the proposals, which would actually increase crocodile-related deaths. 'The removal of crocodiles, either through trapping or culling, will instead increase the likelihood of crocodile attacks as people believe the lie that once a crocodile is removed from a waterway then there will be no crocodiles,' she wrote. 'Research has consistently shown that when a crocodile dies or is removed, then another crocodile immediately comes in to take over that territory. Because of this reality, the Bill will not eliminate or even greatly reduce the risk of crocodile attacks.' Irwin also disputed claims that crocodile numbers have dramatically increased, saying there is no Queensland data to confirm that and the bill's cited increase does not account for multiple sightings of the same croc. 'It is the Irwin family and Australia Zoo's belief that individual culling and relocation are not effective ways to manage crocodile/human coexistence; rather, research and educating people are the key,' she said. 'The best course of action is for people in crocodile territory to be 'Croc-wise', reduce risk wherever possible and take sensible steps to minimise human-crocodile interaction.' KAP MP Shane Knuth spoke about the bill at state parliament last month, stating North Queenslanders are 'angry about losing more of our recreational waterways to the increasing crocodile population'. 'The constant threat of attacks, recent deaths and near-death experiences are dramatically affecting North Queensland's outdoor lifestyle,' he said. 'We never had to worry about the threats of crocodiles in our recreational waterways and beaches until the last two decades.' Crocodiles are protected in Queensland and remain listed as vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Nicks on epic Captain's performance
AFL: Matthew Nicks was delighted with his teams victory over the Brisbane Lions in Friday night footy.
