Former Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson was sensationally sacked mid-week, in a shock end to the senior coach’s tenure at the club.
Sanderson, in his third year as senior coach, took the club to within five points of a grand final berth in his first year at the helm in 2012.
The Crows failed to make the finals in 2014 and club chairman Rob Chapman said the decision was not made lightly, stating the club needed to make changes.
“At the end of the review, after talking to all stakeholders, there were some things that had to change,” Chapman said this week. “It’s not just about game day but about dealings with all our stakeholders. Players were just one section of the stakeholders consulted.
“A tough call has been made, now we start the process to find a new coach to endeavour to take us closer to our vision of being the best football club in Australia .”
Sanderson, who formed part of the Geelong triple-Premiership era as an assistant coach, was axed with two years left on his contract, but Chapman denied suggestions that the club rushed into making a decision.
“We don’t part ways with a senior coach lightly – please read into it that we had to do that, and we’ve done it,” he said.
“We won’t accept mediocrity. Our fans and supporters don’t accept mediocrity.
“The board exist to do the very best thing by the football club. We all love the club.”
Former Adelaide champion and current board member Mark Ricciuto said the board needed to take action after the club missed the finals this year.
Sanderson’s contract will be honoured and the club will now embark on a swift replacement process, according to club officials.
Source: ABC/AAP
