Milligan skips Olyroos training
20:25 AEST Thu May 1 2008

Olyroos captain Mark Milligan has failed to show up at a pre-Olympics training camp in North Queensland amid speculation he is negotiating a deal with English giants Arsenal.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) confirmed Milligan's no-show in Townsville and are waiting for him to make contact with them.

Milligan is off-contract with A-League side Sydney FC and media reports said the defender was in Europe looking for a new club, possibly Arsenal.

A FFA spokesman told AAP Olyroos management had not heard directly from Milligan.

"He didn't turn up for camp today as he was requested and team management wants to talk to Mark regarding the reasons why," the spokesman said.

"We're basically waiting now for Mark to get in touch with the team management before we make any more statements."

Arsenal told AAP they did not comment on speculation.

Another Olyroo, Stuart Musialik, was dropped from the squad for a trip to the US when he failed to attend training the day after the A-League grand final in March this year.

Reckon the olyroos will drop him from the team?

Milligan facing the axe
May 02, 2008 12:00am

AUSTRALIA'S Olympic soccer captain Mark Milligan is in grave danger of missing the Games after failing to meet a deadline to arrive at a training camp in Townsville yesterday.

The 22-year-old, clubless after refusing a new deal with Sydney FC, had been told he was required to be in Townsville by yesterday but opted to remain in Europe to finalise a deal before flying back at the weekend.

It's understood that Olyroos coach Graham Arnold is furious with Milligan for not showing up, given his senior status and the squad's limited preparation time before Beijing.

Milligan is planning to join the squad tomorrow but is likely to be told he is not required.

He also faces the ultimate sanction of being discarded from the Games squad.

Last night, Football Australia head of corporate affairs Bonita Mersiades said: "We can confirm that Mark Milligan has not arrived in camp but we will be making no further comment until we have had the chance to speak to the player."

But the player's management company, AMI, insisted they had been in discussions with Arnold all week and that the FFA was well aware of when Milligan would arrive.

"Mark is in Europe but will be in camp on Saturday," a spokesman said.

When midfielder Stuart Musialik missed a camp earlier this year he was left out of the Socceroo squad that went to Singapore.

It is not the first time Milligan has gone missing in action, last year heading to France for a trial without informing Sydney.

Milligan was a standout performer at last year's Asian Cup but his form suffered in the A-League last season, partly through carrying injuries.

Arnold had mustered his squad together ahead of a tournament in Malaysia.

Has milligan said anything to the press yet?
Maybe he had a legit excuse.

I'm not sure haven't heard anything Morgan

Milligan to miss pre-Olympic tour
May 05, 2008

MARK Milligan's participation at the Olympic Games remains in doubt after the Olyroos skipper was barred from an upcoming team training camp in Malaysia.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) issued a statement saying Milligan was not allowed to attend the May 13-25 camp after he'd failed to show up for another of the Olyroos' training camps, in Townsville this week.

Milligan had been in England and was believed to be trialling with English Barclays Premier League side Arsenal.

The Sydney FC player has been linked with a possible move to either the Gunners or Premiership rivals Manchester City.

An unhappy Milligan was understood to be weighing up his involvement with the national team after the FFA decision.

His manager Tom Brookes said Milligan would appeal the decision.

“Mark is bitterly disappointed and deeply concerned with the FFA's decision and total failure to accept that his need to secure employment is paramount,” Brookes said.

“The FFA was aware of Mark's commitments and why he was there. We do not accept the decision and we will be appealing.”

Milligan's appeal will go through the FFA.

FFA officials met with Milligan to discuss his no show in Townsville and issued a brief statement saying: “In light of the reasons provided by Milligan, he will not eligible to attend the Olympic Football team's upcoming Olympic Games preparatory tournament in Malaysia to be held from 13-25 May 2008.”

No mention was made of whether it would impact Milligan's chances of playing in Beijing..

The 22-year-old defender/midfielder is one of the Olyroos' most important players and has been the cornerstone of the team coach Graham Arnold has built for Beijing over the past two years.