'Frustrated' Del Piero May Not Play Second Season In Australia

It was Australian football's "marriage made in heaven," but the ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO-Sydney FC union "may not see another season despite the Italian legend indicating he would like to activate the second year of a A$4M ($4.2M) contract," according to Ray Gatt of THE AUSTRALIAN. Del Piero said that "discussions had taken place between his management and the club about playing on next season but that the situation had turned into a waiting game." Del Piero: "We have been talking. We are waiting (for) what it (the club) decide ... they wait (for) me. Everybody is waiting." Although "he was diplomatic about the situation," sources close to the Italian's camp suggested that he had become "frustrated by the lack of action" from his new team. The club "won plaudits for its initiative and ambition in Del Piero, but poor results have pushed the club to the bottom of the table and home crowds have fallen dramatically." And that, in turn, "has affected the Sky Blues' bottom line" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/12).