Dockers fiasco

by LES EVERETT

"THIS is not the Freo way," an angry Dockers supporter said as tension mounted at Fremantle Oval on Wednesday.

A small band of fans joined waiting media at the club HQ after overnight speculation about the position of coach Damian Drum. Supporters of the Dockers told australianrules.com they were angry with reports Drum had learned from reporters there were moves afoot to displace him after nine losses to start the 2001 season.

At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon board of management chair Ross McLean outlined the course of events and the convoluted club structure which made confidentiality almost impossible.

The board of management met at 7am on Tuesday to discuss Drum's position. It was agreed that the coach had to go. However decisions of this magnitude must go before the the club's board of directors which considers board of management recommendations. Without the ratification of the directors, the board of management decision couldn't be acted upon.

"They (the board of directors) may have decided to oppose the decision of the board of management in which case Damian would have been continuing in his position,'' Mr McLean said.

Due process would have seen the board of directors meet on Wednesday and Drum advised of the club decision on Thursday. Due process wasn't followed. By Tuesday afternoon a Melbourne newspaper knew of Drum's fate and a media frenzy was in full swing.

Mr McLean described the events as a public relations disaster and a fiasco. When asked whether the breach of confidentiality would have a negative impact on moves for elected board members he answered: "If there has been a leak it has come from someone who wasn't elected."

However, although he apologised for the way Drum found out about his demise, Mr McLean said the club had been left with no option but to sack the coach. In introducing Drum's replacement Ben Allan, Mr McLean said the board had decided the club needed someone new, fresh, well regarded and part of Fremantle history.

Allan made it clear he was taking over in a caretaker role and would not be the senior coach in 2002. He said the club should "shoot for the stars" in its quest for a new long term coach. Allan said his aim was to instill in the players an understanding of how to win.

australianrules.com.au

Disclaimer