Shock waves as Eagles sack coach

By Glen Atwell
AFTER coaching the Doveton Eagles to a minor premiership in division three of the Southern Football League (SFL) this season, Paul Wilson has been sacked.
With a first-year record of 17 wins and three losses the move has surprised many, but the Eagles are standing by their decision.
The side did not capture the premiership flag, but having not played finals football for the previous three seasons, the result was nothing short of spectacular and an angry Wilson wants to set the record straight.
“I’m very, very disappointed,” he said.
New coach Paul Davis has been senior captain for the past six years and will replace Wilson, who claimed the club had cultural flaws.
“I came with hardness and discipline to sort that side out,” he said.
“The success came, but hard training and hard work didn’t fit in with some of the people at the club.
“Culture is hard to change and the Doveton Eagles won’t go too far with an attitude like that.”
Davis replaces Wilson with no coaching experience and will need to become a qualified coach before starting.
Wilson said he was confident he was going to be reappointed, considering only he and the reserves coach applied for the job.
“There was only two in the race, then on the night of interviews, Paul Davis decided to run as well,” he said.
However club president Craig Price said that since Davis collected the applications himself, he could have submitted one at anytime.
“There’s no proof suggesting that Davis didn’t apply for the job in time,” he said.
Price said it was a lose-lose situation for the club.
“I think Wilson has been used as a scapegoat,” he said.
“Had we won two more games and taken home the premiership, it would have been hard not to reappoint him.”
The sacking will have a major impact on the Eagles playing list and Price said it would be a good one.
However Wilson believes his departure would cause shock waves.
Price said Eagles star and league best and fairest Ben Hughes was keen on playing at the club next year.
But Hughes said he was surprised by the move to sack Wilson and was currently unsure of his footballing future.
“I enjoyed the hard training and sometimes felt like I was the only one giving it a crack,” he said.
“I’ve had a few clubs contact me and I’m definitely considering all my options, at this stage I probably won’t be playing for the Eagles next year.”
Wilson is looking to continue his coaching success at another club next year and has already had talks with Doveton Football Club.