Is SAFC Imploding? - Sampson Gone

[PhilH]

FROM SOUTEE What really makes me angry is as a member of the South Adelaide Football Club (or...Panthers....or whatever....all a big diverson off the real issues at the SAFC!!)....is I received the email to state the situation at the club at present and the issues with the coaching position and giving Sampson KPI's.....now that is one of the reasons why I become a member of the club. To get information that other clubs, supporters and the public dont receive. Too find some of the contents of that letter printed in the Sunday Mail is an utter disgrace and an "slap in the face" to members of the football club. It made me wonder, why the hell did I become a member??? ....something I will think about when I renew in 2010. (if I ever do!!)

The FOC and board should be ashamed of leaking that letter out to the public at this stage of the season.

Southee I appreciate the current frustration
however
Once a letter/e-mail like this is distributed to a wide group it is bound to end up in the media's hands. Someone is going to pass it on.


I remember back in '07 we started a members only section of the club web site, you needed a password & ID to get in. This was only sent to members. Thanks to Scoop we used to tape the post game presentations and interviews so those members who could not make it could still hear from the coach and key players. It worked well until a club official went off at the players after a massive loss. That was part of the recording that was sent for members only to listen to. Within the week a transcript of key points was written in The Advertiser and an audio version was played on the TV.

All you can resonably request as a member is to be the first to know.

[klaan]

Could it be possible that my Club have made another decision on a coach that they regret????

Well, thats what we get when we have an opportunity to go through an open recruitment process but do so with a closed mind.

Seriously, John Cahill?? Clay Sampson?? We as supporters are led to believe that these two were the BEST candidates at that point in time?

If Clay goes, then so must our CEO, Football Director and entire Football Department. The Board must keep this part of its business accountable and we have consistently got it wrong.

I am sick of it.

[Lunchbox Legend]

Could it be possible that my Club have made another decision on a coach that they regret????

Well, thats what we get when we have an opportunity to go through an open recruitment process but do so with a closed mind.

Seriously, John Cahill?? Clay Sampson?? We as supporters are led to believe that these two were the BEST candidates at that point in time?

If Clay goes, then so must our CEO, Football Director and entire Football Department. The Board must keep this part of its business accountable and we have consistently got it wrong.

I am sick of it.

klaan I agree with you about accountability but this doesn't happen at SAFC. Look how many stuffups they have been responsible for in recent times and who has fallen on their sword, no one. The Football Operations Commission (a group of ex-players who can't coach, most of whom didn't win premierships as players) are now trying to run things. Their main war-cry is to have south people running the club. The reasoning for bringing Jack back was that he played juniors at south and his uncle played there. Have a look at the number of sons of past players running around at the minute. Some of them simply aren't up to it and let's face it, their fathers couldn't win a flag, are these guys really going to? When they appointed Sambo, Shane Butler's comment was, "at least we have a south person doing it". The CEO just flip-flops around with whatever happens and is not as smart as I gave him credit for earlier.
SAFC is a disgrace!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tiger Couple]

I think that the Members of South need to have a good hard look at things and work out that there Board is the problem and maybe get rid of them and start a fresh and see if coaches and players become happier and the club may be a better place and you may push for 7th or 8th instead of last.

I don't think Clay Sampson could have showen much more commitment to South, he gave up his Full Time job to take up a Part Time coaching role. No wonder the bloke needs to work and can't commit 100% of his time to the Club.

[JS SPORTS]

This sounds like a club in crisis. Members need to either vote them OUT or else take their membership elsewhere.
The board is accountable to the Club members, it's not the other way round. In my opinion, this club has been heading down the track to 'nowhere' for a fair while now, time to stop the slide somehow.

[panthers 2008]

I would seriously doubt Clay will get the shove!
He has been given a list which is as thin as paper,and to be able to judge the teams performance with such a list is impossible!
He needs to be a full time coach with a well heeled coach as an assistant.
Quite an aggressive article which does not fill the supporters with confidence!!
Smarten up your act south!!!!

[mighty_tiger_79]

does a cleanout of both players and coaching need to happen and the club start again?????

Ive heard the players are not fully supportive of the current coach and werent of the previous coach, so maybe its time for those players to move on

The coach is basically operating under a part-time arrangement, due to other circumstances, perhaps the club would be better having a person who can commit to the club on a more full-time basis and get involved in not just the coaching but work with junior development etc

lets just hope that they get there act together soon to get more competitive on the field and keep this a real competitive league

[dash61]

Could it be possible that my Club have made another decision on a coach that they regret????

Well, thats what we get when we have an opportunity to go through an open recruitment process but do so with a closed mind.

Seriously, John Cahill?? Clay Sampson?? We as supporters are led to believe that these two were the BEST candidates at that point in time?

If Clay goes, then so must our CEO, Football Director and entire Football Department. The Board must keep this part of its business accountable and we have consistently got it wrong.

I am sick of it.

I think that Andy Collins was offered the South & West Adelaide jobs and chose the later

[dash61]

I would seriously doubt Clay will get the shove!
He has been given a list which is as thin as paper,and to be able to judge the teams performance with such a list is impossible!
He needs to be a full time coach with a well heeled coach as an assistant.
Quite an aggressive article which does not fill the supporters with confidence!!
Smarten up your act south!!!!

Think you are spot on about the list, maybe there are some players as well that should be moved on and are not playing for the jumper.

It was on 5 or 6 weeks ago South batteled out all the games in a valiant fashion

[aceman]

I would seriously doubt Clay will get the shove!
He has been given a list which is as thin as paper,and to be able to judge the teams performance with such a list is impossible!
He needs to be a full time coach with a well heeled coach as an assistant.
Quite an aggressive article which does not fill the supporters with confidence!!
Smarten up your act south!!!!

Think you are spot on about the list, maybe there are some players as well that should be moved on and are not playing for the jumper.

It was on 5 or 6 weeks ago South batteled out all the games in a valiant fashion

So what has brought about the change? I reckon you start at the top and work down.
There's an old saying that goes like this " a fish starts to rot at the head first" so maybe that's where the trouble really lies and Clay is to become another "scapegoat".
Food for thought!

[CENTURION]

maybe you just don't have good enough players at the moment.

[Jackal]

Dash 61 correct...when Kevin Morris was appointed as the consultant for South, his number one recommendation was Andy Collins as the best possible candidate for the coaching job.The South board sat on the advice and when South eventually got to Collins he already had a heads of agreement set up with West (he was still coaching Coburg so West had to sit on the appointment). This is 100% accurate. Hence South had a brilliant idea and appointed JC who was obsolete when appointed...this decision a lot like winning the toss at Adelaide Oval and bowling...and similar result.

[southee]

Seriously guys, I dont think Andy Collins could do much with the club at present......I dont think even GOD, JESUS or BUDDHA could!!!!!!

A "broom" would be helpful though......

[nickname]

Dash 61 correct...when Kevin Morris was appointed as the consultant for South, his number one recommendation was Andy Collins as the best possible candidate for the coaching job.The South board sat on the advice and when South eventually got to Collins he already had a heads of agreement set up with West (he was still coaching Coburg so West had to sit on the appointment). This is 100% accurate. Hence South had a brilliant idea and appointed JC who was obsolete when appointed...this decision a lot like winning the toss at Adelaide Oval and bowling...and similar result.

That's exactly as I heard it too jackal.

[nickname]

With John Reid leaving the Crows at year's end I wonder if he'll take up a position at South.

[Sojourner]

With John Reid leaving the Crows at year's end I wonder if he'll take up a position at South.

We are hoping to get him as President of the club, he is going on an overseas trip to begin his retirement from the Crows, yet I am very much hoping he will be in the mix!

[darley16]

In spite of Acemans hysteria re this rumour (note rumour) both the club and Clay are working calmly together to get the best outcome for both SAFC and Clay, no talk of sackings or club in turmoil. So all those who jumped on, take a deep breath there are no fat ladies about to burst into song.

[Big Phil]

Interesting article on Clay from the Messenger online...


http://southern-times-messenger.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/losses-wont-hurt-clays-chances/

Losses wont hurt Clay's chances



RECENT thrashings at the hands of West Adelaide and Norwood will have no bearing on whether South Adelaide re-appoints Clay Sampson as coach, the club says.

Out of contract at the end of the season, Sampson had been hoping to secure a multi-year extension by mid-July but has been made to wait.

Panthers chief executive Ben Kavenagh said the delay had nothing to do with the Panthers’ disappointing form.

``Nothing that’s happened recently has changed our position,’’ Kavenagh said.

``Clay has been given some basic KPIs (key performance indicators) to deliver by the end of the season at which time we’ll discuss his position.’’

The club is considering introducing a director to oversee its coaches from next season.

``We’ll look at it more over the next few weeks in discussion with Clay and the board,’’ Kavenagh said.

``We’ve (raised the idea) with a particular type of person in mind. Someone who is experienced, understands developing coaches, co-ordinating programs, but not with any particular names in mind.

``We want to make sure our League side right down to our under-13s have similar game plans, behaviours and structures.’’

Sampson said he hadn’t been affected by recent conjecture over his position.

``In an ideal world it would’ve been good to have it (the contract extension) finalised by now,’’ he said.

``There’s been a lot of things written but to be honest I don’t get too caught up in all of it. I don’t get on the Internet and read what’s written because I don’t think I’d be a coach for much longer if I did.’’

After a narrow loss to third-ranked Sturt in Round 16, the Panthers have lost to bottom four sides Norwood (43 points) and West (88 points) in their past two matches.

South plays Woodville-West Torrens at Thebarton Oval this Saturday, August 15.

[Sojourner]

If Clay Sampson is out of contract at the end of the Season, I wonder then how keen the Eagles, Port and Norwood are to discreetly meet with him re the coaching positions at their respective sides?

[GWW]

If Clay Sampson is out of contract at the end of the Season, I wonder then how keen the Eagles, Port and Norwood are to discreetly meet with him re the coaching positions at their respective sides?

Maybe as an assistant, i couldn't see any of those clubs offering him the main role.