First-year Bulls coach Alan Ezard was given his marching orders last week. 33016 By Paul Pickering
SACKED Noble Park coach Alan Ezard last Friday fired a parting shot at the club’s committee, saying he had not been told the “real” reason for his termination.
Club president Kevin Wright called Ezard last Wednesday to inform him that his tenure at the Bullring was over – just 12 rounds into a two-year deal.
The players were notified on Thursday night and Wright was on the front foot on Friday, telling the Star that the decision was not a reaction to a mid-season player revolt.
“A few of the guys didn’t get on well with him, but that wasn’t the reason for the decision,” he said, adding that the committee had been disappointed by Ezard’s lack of communication with the playing group and other staff within the club.
Ezard said he was “shocked” by the mid-week phone call, particularly given that the rebuilding Bulls were sitting sixth on the ladder and just four points from third place.
“It just blew me away,” he said.
“There’s been no clear indication of why (the decision was made), barring the little rumours here and there.
“You don’t expect that from a club like Noble Park that’s been fairly successful. But they’re probably lucky they can go out and get some players to make them successful, because the committee itself has been pretty ordinary this year.”
The former North Ballarat VFL coach said he had no hard feelings towards the playing group, despite some inevitable run-ins.
“There were probably four or five players that weren’t happy, but you get that at every club,” he said.
“We have meetings with the team leaders every four weeks, and you’re always going to have rumbles here and there, but there’s been nothing major this season.”
Ezard said he would have been prepared to stand down at the end of the season if the issues couldn’t be resolved.
“They should have at least had the decency to let me finish the year off and then have a chat, because we were in a position to play finals footy this year,” he said.
But Wright said the timing of the decision would give the committee a head start in its bid to attract quality applicants for the senior job in 2010.
“Last year we couldn’t get many applicants, so it was getting late and very concerning (before Ezard was appointed),” he reflected.
“Maybe it was a hasty decision, but he was the best out of the crop.”
Bulls assistant coach and football operations manager Jason Fennell has assumed the caretaker role for the remainder of the season.
