Ex-South Adelaide captain Brad Crabb quits as coach of Cove Football Club in SFL
Cove Football Club has won one battle to stay in its clubrooms but now has to find a new coach after the ex-SANFL captain it appointed in August quit unexpectedly.
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Embattled Cove Football Club’s woes are not finished yet after its newly appointed A grade coach quit in the wake of the club’s recent controversy.
Former South Adelaide captain Brad Crabb, who the Cobras announced in August as playing coach for the 2020 season, informed club president Tony Kernahan that he had reconsidered his position.
Crabb, 32, decided that with a newborn child, more responsibility with his plumbing business and publicity and uncertainty about Cove’s football future would have been too much for a new coach.
The club faced eviction from its Lonsdale Highway clubrooms for an alleged culture of “inappropriate and intimidating behaviour’’.
But Marion Council last week gave the Cobras a reprieve and granted Cove a conditional 12-month lease extension.
It is believed it was Crabb’s call to pull the pin on the coaching offer and the playing group was told of the news earlier this month.
Cove president Tony Kernahan said the club was disappointed with Crabb’s decision but understood the circumstances were not ideal.
“There were a few things going on,’’ Kernahan said.
“Brad has his own plumbing business and had to replace someone suddenly there, plus he has a young family.
“With everything going on it would be very tough for a new coach to come in under those circumstances. It is unfortunate but probably not the best situation for Brad to come to.
“I’m not sure what Brad will do. I hope he still plays with us. We would love that. It's up to our football department to sort out what to do. I will leave that to them.’’
When contacted by The Messenger Crabb was noncommittal.
“I haven’t really spoken with anyone but it’s best you speak to Tony about that,’’ Crabb said.
Cove football director Shane Grieve said the club would move on but it would be tough to get its coaching matters sorted soon.
“At this time of season most clubs have filled their positions,’’ Grieve said.
“And with the uncertainty over the club it has been difficult trying to recruit.
“But we will push forward and see who we can follow up.’’
Meanwhile, in a big shake up to how the club’s game days are run Cove will be forced to shut its bars at three-quarter time in every A grade men’s match next season.
Under sanctions imposed by Marion Council, the bar also will stay closed for at least two hours after the end of those games.
Kernahan, who intends to put his hand up for another term as president at the club’s annual general meeting on Sunday, October 27, said the alcohol restrictions were unusual but the club needed to show it was keen to stamp out unruly behaviour.
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“I am keen to go on and see through the challenges facing us,’’ Kernahan said.
“The alcohol restrictions are tough but we have to be serious about cleaning up our act.
“There will be a review in about June or July next year and we will be reviewing our code of conduct with the other clubs at the centre and making sure we do the right things.
“There are plenty of things we can do better. It will be ongoing and we have to make sure we are on the same page as the affiliated clubs.
“The SANFL, Glenelg chief executive Glenn Elliott and Marion Cr Matt Shilling have also been very helpful in making sure things are done right by us.’’