Victory's dismal start to the season has plunged the club into crisis with just one win from the opening seven games despite recruiting a five star attacking line-up over the off-season.

But Durakovic categorically denied the whispering campaign that former Victory skipper Kevin Muscat was actually pulling the strings in the side as assistant coach and not Durakovic.

"At the end of the day, I am the boss of this football club," said Durakovic after training today. "The buck stops with me.

"Kevin Muscat is my assistant coach along with Steve Mautone and we've known each other since day one. I call the shots here and I'm the boss.

"Since we started the preseason and the start of the season, the structure that I put in place is still there. Players take directions from me.

"I have the full support of the players, the board, the coaching staff. The coaching staff are fantastic.

"There is pressure. We are the biggest club in Australia but I'm big enough. I can cop it on the chin."

The club crisis took another twist this week with director of football Francis Awaritefe being axed just four months into the job while marquee star Harry Kewell reportedly split with long-time manager Bernie Mandic.

That split prompted rumours of the club or player linking up with former Argentinean star Abel Balbo, who was tipped as both Awaritefe's replacement but also Kewell's new personal trainer.

However today Kewell reportedly denied hiring Balbo - while Durakovic insisted Balbo had no role at Victory, and bristled at suggestions it undermined his position as Victory coach.

"This has been happening for a while now," said Durakovic. "Balbo has absolutely nothing to do with Melbourne Victory. He has no involvement whatsoever in the club. Let me make that clear.

"That's got nothing to do with me. That's got nothing to do with the club. As far as I know, I'm the boss of this club, everyone takes directions from me.

"Abel Balbo is Harry Kewell's prerogative but he has nothing to do with the club whatsoever. No role whatsoever."

Durakovic promised the squad would be training hard to to get their season back on track, sdtarting with a clash against Gold Coast United this weekend, which Durakovic admitted was "critical".

"We've only lost one game this year. We've got four out of five games at home and we'll do our best against Gold Coast to rectify and get three points," he said.

"We are a very big club no doubt about it. The supporters, the fans, demand success. I demand success and we'll be trying to do everything right to put that on this week.

"We'll be working really really hard on the pitch to get our team shape right and get our consistency right and hopefully we'll get the ball in the back of the net and get going for this week's game."