By ROY WARD
DEPARTED Oakleigh District coach Stephen Wright has one question for his former club after a player mutiny forced him from his post last week.
What happens when the players don’t like the next coach?
Wright, who was named Victorian Australian Football Coaches Association senior coach of the year earlier this month, resigned last week after a group of about 20 players threatened to leave the club if he was not replaced.
Wright’s shock resignation has had further effects, with the coach telling the Journal two vice-presidents, the club secretary and another board member had all left the club following the nasty saga.
“What happens if the players aren’t happy with the coach next year? Will they do the same thing?” Wright said.
“Does it mean the players are running the footy club? That would be pretty sad.
“The players said they are the most important people at the footy club.
“That means you are forgetting about the board, the sponsors and members, and especially the volunteers. That is pretty poor.”
The Wright family has had a long association with Oakleigh District, with his wife Kerrie on the board, his sister-in-law on the board and his son Josh in the senior side.
Wright said his son had been left out of the player revolt, which appeared to have started after Wright made it clear several players would be asked not to come back in 2013 due to having poor attitudes. He said a number of other players had expressed support for him.
Wright led Oakleigh District to the Southern Football League division 2 grand final this past season. The side suffered a narrow loss to East Malvern.
The former Sydney Swans best and fairest winner was looking forward to taking his side a step further in 2013 but instead was called by new club president Greg Kiellerup telling him a group of players would leave if he didn’t resign.
“The new president raised it with me and asked me if it would be best if I stood down or stayed on. I said in my opinion it would be best for me to stay on.”
The players met again, then called Wright last Sunday week asking him to meet with them.
He couldn’t attend but asked them to meet him and the club board last Monday night.
In the meeting Wright said the players told him he had problems with his communication and had not been training them hard enough.
Wright admitted communication with players was not his strong suit.
The concerns about training left Wright confused, as he had challenged his players to improve their fitness outside of the football club.
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