PFA president and Melbourne Heart defender Simon Colosimo said Australian coaches deserved the same collective support as players.

His comments follow recent turmoil at Adelaide United where former coaches have spoken out against their treatment by the club.

The players union has good reason to be close to the issue, with many coaches long-standing members of the PFA.

“Frank Farina (Sydney FC coach) is an Alex Tobin medallist, which is our highest honour,” Colosimo told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“John Aloisi (Melbourne Heart) is a life member, Tony Popovic (Western Sydney Wanderers) came through the Socceroos with the PFA.

“These guys were supporters of the PFA while they were playing and I think now there’s a good opportunity for them to have their own collective forum.”

And there is a local precedent with Colosimo pointing to the AFL Coaches Association run by former St Kilda captain and Richmond coach, Danny Frawley.

The AFLCA utilises the same premises as the AFL Players Association and “a lot of their resources and discussions” are shared, he said.

The subject of a coaches association raised its head again last month when former Adelaide United boss, Rini Coolen, settled his long-running and acrimonious split with the Reds for $760,000.

Among the lessons learned from the harrowing experience – which was precipitated by Coolen’s demotion to youth coach – the Dutchman cited the need for an association.

A week ago his replacement, John Kosmina, shocked the club, players and Reds fans when he also headed for the exit citing a “lack of trust”. 

Yet another former Adelaide coach, Phil Stubbins, who was overlooked in favour of Coolen, said the club was “crying out” for stability.

This season alone, three of the 10 clubs have changed coaches – Adelaide, Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar – proving the domestic game is every bit as tough off the park as it is on.

One Aussie coach told au.fourfourtwo.com the association initiative had merit.

“We are not protected enough in any way and I feel that we stand under a huge rock ready to fall at times,” he said.

While the PFA has more than enough on its plate for the time being, negotiating the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, it hasn’t ruled out assisting the set-up of a coaches association down the track, admitting it already supports the game’s tacticians.

“I believe the idea definitely has some scope,” Colosimo said. “Throughout their career is some way or another (players) have asked the PFA for support whether it be collectively or individually.

“I think those relationships are why ex-players who are coaches now don’t hesitate to pick up the phone.

“We would always assist them as individuals but collectively it would have to be a separate group.”

But he added: “I don’t think it’s something that could be taken lightly and just created for the sake of creating it.

“I believe, like the PFA, there have got to be values and reasons and what they stand for.”

Colosimo said a coaches association should be an avenue for mentoring and education.

“I know their teams play against each other and all that but ultimately they’re all in the same industry so I assume that they’ve all got good relationships,” he said.

“Some guys are starting their careers and some are well into their careers as coaches and I think it would be a great opportunity for them to have that collective discussion.

“When I was younger sitting in a room with guys like Stan Lazaridis and Craig Moore in a PFA discussion - I was eyes wide open and listening to everything possible.

“I’m sure there would be some young coaches who would be willing to do the same.”