Monday, 8th June 2009
Coach sacked, players revolt Shepparton Swans is in turmoil after the sacking of senior coach Peter White, which resulted in a player revolt on Saturday.
Dan Collyer, Troy Snelson and Matt Jackson refused to play for the Swans against Benalla, after White was sacked via a phone call from the club on Friday night.
Tensions first arose within the senior playing group after training on Thursday night, when they were told player payments would be cut by 20 per cent.
Swans president Bruce O'Keefe said yesterday the cutting of player payments and White's sacking were not linked.
``It's another issue that will remain in-house,'' O'Keefe said.
``He (White) had the opportunity to raise it with the club on Thursday night. The president, secretary (Cheryl Hunter) and treasurer (Michael Moroney) were all there but he didn't raise it with any of us.''
O'Keefe said there was nothing personal between the club and White and that his sacking was a ``business decision''.
O'Keefe believed White contacted some players telling them not to play against Benalla.
White was unable to be contacted yesterday.
Snelson and Collyer have confirmed their departures from Princess Park, while Jackson's future is unknown.
White replaced Jarrod Sutherland as Swans coach at the end of 2006, leading them to a grand final in 2007 and a first semi-final last year.
He previously coached Tongala and Kyabram, leading the Bombers' to their last senior premiership in 1996.
O'Keefe said the senior players' reaction to the pay cuts was ``okay''.
``The club has a budget for things like player payments and at the moment it's a bit light on,'' O'Keefe said.
``We're a responsible club and we're not going to run with a debt. We don't owe any debt but we've been watching our budget, especially given the current economic times. We'll review things on a monthly basis and if everything goes to plan we may able to honour those payments in full and back pay them.''
Swans veterans Jarrod Sutherland and Brett Warburton are likely to step in for White as co-coaches for the rest of the season. The pair made a winning start on Saturday, thrashing Benalla by 10 goals.
Coach sacked, players revolt Shepparton Swans is in turmoil after the sacking of senior coach Peter White, which resulted in a player revolt on Saturday.
Dan Collyer, Troy Snelson and Matt Jackson refused to play for the Swans against Benalla, after White was sacked via a phone call from the club on Friday night.
Tensions first arose within the senior playing group after training on Thursday night, when they were told player payments would be cut by 20 per cent.
Swans president Bruce O'Keefe said yesterday the cutting of player payments and White's sacking were not linked.
``It's another issue that will remain in-house,'' O'Keefe said.
``He (White) had the opportunity to raise it with the club on Thursday night. The president, secretary (Cheryl Hunter) and treasurer (Michael Moroney) were all there but he didn't raise it with any of us.''
O'Keefe said there was nothing personal between the club and White and that his sacking was a ``business decision''.
O'Keefe believed White contacted some players telling them not to play against Benalla.
White was unable to be contacted yesterday.
Snelson and Collyer have confirmed their departures from Princess Park, while Jackson's future is unknown.
White replaced Jarrod Sutherland as Swans coach at the end of 2006, leading them to a grand final in 2007 and a first semi-final last year.
He previously coached Tongala and Kyabram, leading the Bombers' to their last senior premiership in 1996.
O'Keefe said the senior players' reaction to the pay cuts was ``okay''.
``The club has a budget for things like player payments and at the moment it's a bit light on,'' O'Keefe said.
``We're a responsible club and we're not going to run with a debt. We don't owe any debt but we've been watching our budget, especially given the current economic times. We'll review things on a monthly basis and if everything goes to plan we may able to honour those payments in full and back pay them.''
Swans veterans Jarrod Sutherland and Brett Warburton are likely to step in for White as co-coaches for the rest of the season. The pair made a winning start on Saturday, thrashing Benalla by 10 goals.
