West Coast has slammed a report saying it held an emergency meeting to discuss the futures of its senior coach and chief executive as “erroneous”.
Eagles board members and administrators met at a sponsors’ lunch at the club’s Mineral Resources Park headquarters on Thursday, with an article in the West Australian reporting that “exit strategies” would be discussed in a “crisis meeting” regarding the future of contracted coach Adam Simpson and chief executive Trevor Nisbett.
In a statement released Thursday evening the Eagles claimed the lunch was not a “crisis meeting” and was an annual event.
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“The West Coast Eagles wish to clarify an erroneous media report suggesting that a crisis meeting of the board is being held at Mineral Resources Park today,” the statement read.
“Some of the club’s executives and directors are engaged in a leaders lunch in a club function room with senior management of our corporate partners. The leadership luncheon is an annual event.
“Some guests at the function have also been wrongly identified in photographs as being club directors.”
The West Australian reported talks were at a “flashpoint” over Simpson and Nisbett, but amended the headline of their story from “crisis meeting” to “crisis talks” following the Eagles’ statement.
It is not the first time the Eagles have criticised media reports over Simpson’s future this year, after a club spokesperson told the Herald Sun in May that the coach would be encouraged to take extended leave after the home and away season.
West Coast released a statement later that night labelling the reports “inaccurate” and saying that “no such discussion has taken place”.
Simpson has insisted throughout the season he has the energy to guide the club through its daunting rebuild.
“We knew we were going to have to restock our list and there’s going to be some hard times,” he said in May.
“We had a bad week and it’s been a bad few weeks with our availability and our form, but it doesn’t change my attitude or demeanour or stress levels.
“Sometimes dealing with success is harder than dealing with failure. This is part of my career I’ve got to deal with and I’m in it and I’m up for it.”
West Coast will face North Melbourne in Perth on Sunday, with both teams looking for their first win since round 2.
Due to their low percentage, the Eagles would need to beat the Kangaroos and then win again to avoid the wooden spoon.
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