Newcastle coach Branko Culina has been fined $3000 by Football Federation Australia (FFA) for making derogatory comments about opposition sides following last weekend's 1-0 loss to Wellington.
The FFA found Culina had breached the code of conduct when answering a question put to him by journalists after the Wellington match.
When asked if his ninth-placed Jets' side could still challenge for a position in the top six he reportedly replied: "We're only a finals team because all the teams around us are pretty s--t as well."
The FFA imposed the fine on Friday afternoon but Culina fortunately escaped a touchline ban and will coach as normal when Newcastle travels to Sydney this weekend.
Culina is the second coach in as many weeks to court controversy in his press conferences after Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar copped a two-match club-imposed touchline ban for disparaging comments about Saudi Arabia.
Despite the fine, Culina has reason to feel somewhat optimistic as the Jets take on Sydney on Sunday, with striker Michael Bridges appearing likely to play against his old club after missing last week's match with a hamstring strain.
"Obviously we didn't push him too much but it was positive," Culina said of Bridges.
"He didn't have any major concerns after the training. And I think if he is okay he will probably start, but let's wait and see after tomorrow's session."
In other Newcastle team news, Neil Young will start in goals ahead of Ben Kenendy, who is still sidelined with a groin injury, while strikers Sasho Petrovski and Sean Rooney also trained with the team on Friday and look likely to be available for Sunday's clash.
Culina, though, has urged his side to show more desperation after being critical of a flat performance against the Phoenix.
"We just need to focus and concentrate and have a little bit more urgency at both ends," Culina said.
"Last time we played Sydney, we missed a penalty which was a crucial turning point and then they have gone up the field and scored a superbly taken goal, even though we had three defenders around the ball – which shows we weren't urgent enough to get the ball."
"We then gave away a soft penalty when we got caught out in the middle of the park. There is not a lot of big changes we need to make. We just have to ensure that the desperation and urgency are there."
Culina, who briefly coached Sydney FC a few seasons ago, conceded it would be great to beat his old club although he was more concerned with his current side bouncing back from last weekend's disappointing loss.
"This always gets asked when we play Sydney, but really it was years ago. Having said that, it would be very sweet to beat them," said Culina.
"But I think more importantly for us is to get back on the winning track."
"They are also coming off two losses, so their confidence is not going to be sky-high but they are playing at home and they have a good track record against us so they are going to be reasonably confident but not too confident because when you lose two in a row some doubts naturally enter your head."