Foley Dumped

[MI5_Dog]

Force players upset over Foley sacking

Western Force captain Matt Hodgson says the players will dedicate their last three games of the Super Rugby season to Michael Foley after the coach was sacked on Thursday.

Foley's four-year reign was brought to an abrupt end despite having a year to run on his contract with the under-performing franchise.

The hunt now begins for a new coach from next season to help lift the Force from the doldrums - and they will probably need a good track record if the Perth-based side is to start attracting leading players again.

Although the Force struggled for wins under Foley, he retained the support of his players until the end.

It's understood some players were even in tears when Foley addressed the group for the final time on Thursday morning.

Foley's assistant Dave Wessels has been appointed interim head coach for the final three games of the season which follow the current international break.

Hodgson was upset Foley wasn't allowed to see out the season and said the players would be fighting to win for him when back in action against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on July 2.

Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry said it was a tough call to sack Foley before the season finished.

But he said it was important to do it now so they could start the process of attracting a new coach.

"I understand the players are upset. They're a very tight group. Michael's developed a very good culture," Sinderberry said.

"However, I'd be even more surprised or disappointed if they weren't concerned about our results.

"We're all in the game for results. So I think in time, we'll all get back on track about trying to achieve results."

The decision to change coach comes two weeks after the Australian Rugby Union formed an alliance with the Force to run the franchise, which is struggling with financial difficulty and inability to recruit top-line players.

Foley, who was in his fourth season with the Force, led the team to just 18 wins and a draw from his 60 games in charge.

His best season came in 2014, when the Force only narrowly missed the finals with a franchise-best 9-7 record.

Foley attempted to introduce a new attacking game plan this season.

But as the injuries mounted in a team already lacking firepower, the results quickly went south, with the team scoring a competition-low 21 tries.

The Force, who are yet to make the finals in their 10 years in the competition, currently sit last in the Australian conference and third-last overall with a 2-10 record this season.

But Sinderberry doesn't expect the poor on and off-field results to deter world-class coaches from applying for the head coach's role.

"I certainly don't sense that in terms of the level of interest I've already received," Sinderberry said.

"We're still playing in the Super Rugby competition - a wonderful competition.

"We've now got an important strategic partner in the Australian Rugby Union, and access to a lot more resources that way.

"I think that overcomes any of those concerns a potential coach may have."

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...er-rugby/#stop

[Alison]

This appointment will certainly test just how much the ARU really does want to make the Force a successful franchise.

Could it be that the ARU will bring in a high profile coach AND Quade Cooper? That would be a real statement of intent!

[jono]

For the record - this whole habit of putting the word "firepower" in every article about the force really fucks me off.

We get it ok guys... Your snide digs are no longer polished

[whodunnit]

Force players upset over Foley sacking

Western Force captain Matt Hodgson says the players will dedicate their last three games of the Super Rugby season to Michael Foley after the coach was sacked on Thursday.

Foley's four-year reign was brought to an abrupt end despite having a year to run on his contract with the under-performing franchise.

The hunt now begins for a new coach from next season to help lift the Force from the doldrums - and they will probably need a good track record if the Perth-based side is to start attracting leading players again.

Although the Force struggled for wins under Foley, he retained the support of his players until the end.

It's understood some players were even in tears when Foley addressed the group for the final time on Thursday morning.

Foley's assistant Dave Wessels has been appointed interim head coach for the final three games of the season which follow the current international break.

Hodgson was upset Foley wasn't allowed to see out the season and said the players would be fighting to win for him when back in action against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on July 2.

Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry said it was a tough call to sack Foley before the season finished.

But he said it was important to do it now so they could start the process of attracting a new coach.

"I understand the players are upset. They're a very tight group. Michael's developed a very good culture," Sinderberry said.

"However, I'd be even more surprised or disappointed if they weren't concerned about our results.

"We're all in the game for results. So I think in time, we'll all get back on track about trying to achieve results."

The decision to change coach comes two weeks after the Australian Rugby Union formed an alliance with the Force to run the franchise, which is struggling with financial difficulty and inability to recruit top-line players.

Foley, who was in his fourth season with the Force, led the team to just 18 wins and a draw from his 60 games in charge.

His best season came in 2014, when the Force only narrowly missed the finals with a franchise-best 9-7 record.

Foley attempted to introduce a new attacking game plan this season.

But as the injuries mounted in a team already lacking firepower, the results quickly went south, with the team scoring a competition-low 21 tries.

The Force, who are yet to make the finals in their 10 years in the competition, currently sit last in the Australian conference and third-last overall with a 2-10 record this season.

But Sinderberry doesn't expect the poor on and off-field results to deter world-class coaches from applying for the head coach's role.

"I certainly don't sense that in terms of the level of interest I've already received," Sinderberry said.

"We're still playing in the Super Rugby competition - a wonderful competition.

"We've now got an important strategic partner in the Australian Rugby Union, and access to a lot more resources that way.

"I think that overcomes any of those concerns a potential coach may have."

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...er-rugby/#stop

Looks like Sinderberry saves his own job with the Aru so he can and sack another.

[jono]

Maybe.

It's always the CEO's fault in the end. He might not be there next season either

[Happy]

here we go again ... so who is on the radar?

[yungfen]

Only time will tell, Thanks Foles for the hard work over these 4 years.

[jargan83]

Yes this is at best duplicitous.
If your PR department is encouraging you to lie about something that later you will be shown to have lied about it's time for a new PR department.

I reckon Sinderberry told him he won't be required post 2016 and that's when Foley has turned around and said well if you don't need me, I'll leave now.

Hence the term "vacated" in the RugbyWA press release.

[shasta]

here we go again ... so who is on the radar?

Todd Blackadder.

Let's see; currently coaching the most successful team in the SH. Wants to move on (and presumably up). Most likely has a long term goal of coaching the AB's ..........so.......ah yeah, nah.

[travelling_gerry]

Duayne Nestor

[hertryk]

Oh now there's a brilliant coach.
Managed to drag England back into the dark ages with no help what so ever
I'll burn my membership if he get's the job and C.

I would love to see that LOL I have to say after a very miserable day that made me laugh..

[GIGS20]

With regards to the comments about lies with the end of season review, I don't think it's necessarily lying. Perhaps the policy AT THE Time was a review, because they couldn't afford anything else, once the money arrived, the policy changed. Not a lie just a change in circumstances

[slomo]

Shit call!.... No advantage in sacking Foles unless there is a new coach lined up, clean out the athletic performance team he can only use the team that he's given... Our injury toll runs too deep each season....

[andrewg]

With regards to the comments about lies with the end of season review, I don't think it's necessarily lying. Perhaps the policy AT THE Time was a review, because they couldn't afford anything else, once the money arrived, the policy changed. Not a lie just a change in circumstances

Thanks GIGS but let me share something with you.

After I met Michael Foley for the 1st time I found out that we had two mutual friends - Honesty and Integrity.

Clearly our mates are not broadly known.

[Macattack]

Thanks for your efforts Michael, the fact that the players still support you emphasises that you are a decent man. Unfortunately our results on the field were enough to close the curtain. I wish you well but hope that the ARU taking over will turn our club around - because the chances of the Force continuing beyond a few years depend on it. ARU you had better get it right if you want tier 1 rugby to survive in WA. - you forced a tough decision, now deliver!