Valkanis: I respected Kosmina as Reds boss

By FOX SPORTS staff

Former Australia skipper Kosmina announced his decision to part ways with Adelaide United on Monday, declaring that he could not "work in an environment that otherwise lacks trust".

The Reds moved quickly to appoint Kosmina's assistant Valkanis as interim manager, but the decision was met with raised eyebrows as the 38-year old had been accused by Kosmina of attempting to unseat him after the club's thumping by Central Coast Mariners on Friday. 

Speaking to the A-League website, Valkanis dismissed talk that he plotted against the former Sydney manager during their time together at Adelaide.

"I have great respect for Kossie. I've played under him and played good football, I worked very hard under him as an assistant coach and did everything that he asked me to do, and even more sometimes. It's difficult circumstances with how it's all come up, and we weren't expecting Kossie to resign. The club's fourth on the ladder and in the coming weeks he was supposed to have a chat about moving forward," Valkanis shared.

"I never had spoken to the club about next year. I never had spoken to the club about the head coaching role and the club never spoke to me. For me, I was always the assistant and youth team coach and I really enjoyed that role."

While the Reds interim boss admitted that he had yet to clear the air with Kosmina, he assured supporters that the players still retained their focus on achieving results on the pitch.

"I think the only way to fix the brand is to play good football and to win games, we need to find stability and people believing in us again, from day one - and I've been here since the very first minute of this club - the club has had great support but along the way it has fallen off for whatever reason," Valkanis said.

"Everyone has got to jump back up on board. We have a really good squad and a team that is right up there, and for most of the season, had everyone talking about Adelaide United. We've got to talk about good football and winning games, that's what we want people talking about and that's how we are going to fix the image of this club."

Star striker Sergio van Dijk fell out with Kosmina earlier in the month, prompting his release from the club. Although the 2010/11 A-League top scorer was heavily linked with a move to Persib Bandung of Indonesia, Valkanis hinted that a homecoming might be on the cards for van Dijk.

"If a good opportunity comes up and it's someone that we know, and we know what sort of footballer he is and character is, then maybe we will discuss and bring someone in, otherwise we won't take a chance," he stated.

"If he (Van Dijk) was to come back it would be great, if he's not coming back then we have to move on and believe in the players we've got."

Valkanis' first game in charge of Adelaide sees him lead the Reds against Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.