The club's board today vowed to back the under-fire Czech in Asia despite a nightmare season that will likely see the defending double champs fail to even make the finals this season.

But Sydney's vice chairman Scott Barlow insisted Lavicka deserved the chance to redeem himself in Asia after earning the club their spot in the Champions League.

“What Vitezslav achieved for the club in his first season as coach in the Hyundai A-League, winning both the Premiership and Championship, is a credit to him and his management skills,” Barlow said.

“He qualified the club for the 2011 AFC Champions League, a goal we set from day one with him. He led us to the most successful season in the club’s history.

“Obviously, this season has not been up to the high standards we set for ourselves. We acknowledge that but as a collective group we are working as hard as ever to put Sydney FC back to where it belongs; at the top of Australian football.

“We have endured a terrible season with player injury. Vitja has only been able to play a full strength Sydney FC a handful of times this season and this has severely hampered us in achieving the goals we set ourselves this year.

“Everyone at Sydney FC is working extremely hard to achieve our goal of Sydney FC becoming the preeminent club in Asia. It is a process we are steadfastly dedicated to.”

However his sidekick Michal Zach will return to the Czech Republic at the end of March to be with his family.

Barlow added: “Michal indicated he wanted to return to the Czech Republic to be closer to his family and we accepted that.

"On behalf of Sydney FC, I thank him for his major contribution to the club over the past two years and wish him and his family all of the best.”