Time for tough calls at Sydney FC - Fox Sports

Decision time ... Farina needs to mould his squad for next season. Source: Dave Hunt / AAP

Sydney FC boss Tony Pignata admits the club faces some tough decisions as it bids to rebuild in the wake of falling short of a place in the finals.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Western Sydney	27	18	3	6	20	57
2	Central Coast	27	16	6	5	26	54
3	Victory	27	13	5	9	3	44
4	Adelaide	27	12	5	10	1	41
5	Brisbane	27	10	5	12	4	35
6	Perth	27	9	5	13	-2	32
7	Sydney	27	9	5	13	-10	32
8	Newcastle	27	8	7	12	-15	31
9	Heart	27	8	3	16	-9	27
10	Wellington	27	7	6	14	-18	27

With the future of eight players to resolve, Pignata will begin discussions with coach Frank Farina this week about who will play a part next season as Farina looks to remould the squad more fully in his own image.

A sombre mood surrounds the club after a 3-1 loss to Brisbane last Thursday allowed the Roar and Perth to climb into the finals at Sydney's expense, bringing the curtain down on Alessandro Del Piero's first season at the club.

Lucas Neill's guest-player stint and Tiago Calvano's injury replacement contract will expire at the end of the month, as does the loan deal of Panamanian forward Yairo Yau.

A further five players - Nathan Sherlock, Adam Griffiths, Trent McLenehan, Kruno Lovrek and Paul Reid - have reached the end of their deals.

Sydney will move more quickly to decide on the roster than they did last year, when several players had to wait until their contracts had expired before being released thanks to the uncertainty surrounding Sydney's coaching position and the club's CEO.

"We do have some big decisions to make but in a sense it's also exciting in that we want to start the process of preparing for next season," Pignata said.

"No one's dwelling on what has happened. It's important now that we start to look forward. It's disappointing that the season ended as it did, but we have to use that feeling as motivation and a learning experience towards next season.

ELIMINATION FINAL 1, FRIDAY APRIL 5:

Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory, Etihad Stadium 7:30pm EDT

ELIMINATION FINAL 2, SUNDAY APRIL 7:

Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar, Hindmarsh Stadium 5:00pm EST

SEMI-FINAL 1, FRIDAY APRIL 12:

Western Sydney Wanderers v Lowest-ranked elimination finals winner, Parramatta Stadium 7:30pm EST

SEMI-FINAL 2, SUNDAY APRIL 14:

Central Coast Mariners v Highest-ranked elimination finals winner, Bluetongue Stadium 5:00pm EST

GRAND FINAL, SUNDAY APRIL 21:

Winner Semi-Final 1 v Winner Semi-Final 2, Venue TBC, 4:00pm EST

"No one wants to have this bitter taste again. When you're relying on other teams, the danger is always there. And that's what happened.

"We had opportunities to seal a place in the finals and couldn't take them.

"No one's happy about that, but now we have stability in terms of management and the head coach, and we have the whole of the pre-season to get the squad right and our preparation right."

Pignata chose not to comment on speculation linking Brisbane Roar technical director Rado Vidosic with the role of Farina's assistant, though it's understood Farina is keen to be reunited with a coach who was his No.2 at Brisbane for three years until 2009.

Having been moved upstairs from the head coach role at Brisbane in December, Vidosic is on the radar of Adelaide as they seek a replacement for John Kosmina.

"I honestly haven't sat down with Frank and had any discussions about the coaching set-up for next season," Pignata said.

"Until I do and get some feedback from Frank on what he wants, it would be disrespectful to those already in place."

Most of Sydney's backroom staff are also off contract, with conditioning coach Anthony Crea - brought in with Farina in December - also a candidate to sign a long-term deal.