Sydney FC appoint banned Kosmina

Australian A-League side Sydney FC on Wednesday named John Kosmina as their fourth coach in three years, despite the fact he is currently serving a four-match ban for abusing a referee.

The volatile former Australia striker was slapped with a five-match ban in February after he launched a tirade at a referee while coach of Adelaide United.

The ban forced Kosmina, who in 2006 was charged with violent conduct for grabbing a player by the throat, to watch Adelaide play last season's grand final from the stands. When they lost 6-0 to Melbourne Victory, he was sacked.

Sydney, the 2006 A-League champions who axed Branko Culina on Monday for his poor domestic results, said they hoped Kosmina could put their season back on track.

"John's record in the A-League is second to none and I'm confident that he's the right man to put Sydney FC where it belongs - at the top of Australian club football," chairman Andrew Kemeny said.

Sydney are currently in sixth position in the eight-team league.

Kosmina said the offer was too good to refuse.

"The opportunity only presented itself a couple of days ago and it was one I just couldn't knock back, I didn't even have to think about it," he said.

"I said yes before Andrew could say hello."

Culina was the third coach to leave Sydney abruptly. Pierre Littbarski left after he was offered a new contract with reduced terms, while Englishman Terry Butcher got the chop after a slump in form a year later.