Culture experts Leading Teams says Alen Stajcic sacking a symptom of deeper issues at FFA

The sudden and botched sacking of Alen Stajcic is a band-aid fix for the deeper cultural issues inside Football Federation Australia, according to Australia’s cultural and leadership gurus.

Matildas' coach Alen Stajcic. Picture: Val Migliaccio

An anonymous survey which led to the sudden, botched sacking of the Matildas coach underlines Football Federation Australia’s deep-rooted cultural issues, according to local leadership gurus.

Leading Teams founder Ray McLean said axing Alen Stajcic, 45, was a band-aid fix for the crisis engulfing soccer’s governing body, who’ve lost their national coach (Socceroos and Matildas) on the eve of a FIFA World Cup for the fourth time in five years.

It’s emerged that one of the two reports that led to Stajcic’s sacking reveals a culture of “fear and unacceptable stress levels” among players, with a quarter of respondents afraid to seek support, believing it may compromise their selection hopes.

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FFA chief executive David Gallop declared on Saturday that the cultural buck stops with Stajcic, hence the coach’s sacking just five weeks out from their next tournament and 20 weeks out from their 2019 World Cup opener.

McLean, who’s worked with female teams, Australia’s Diamonds and Opals, plus AFLW teams and Super Netball, said the issues run much deeper.

“If you sack a coach because of poor team culture, but reveal that the information was gathered anonymously, then the poor culture goes way past the team and coach,” McLean said.

Matildas coach Alen Stajcic directs players during training.

“If you have an environment where it is not safe enough to review openly then that alone is poor culture.

“Appointing a new coach will give you breathing space, but it won’t fix culture.”

McLean, who rose to prominence off the back of his work with AFL clubs Geelong, Sydney Swans and Hawthorn, employs experts to create high performing cultures and they specialise in culture change, leadership and team development programs.

Leading Teams also believe that the increased high performance scrutiny since the sudden rise of women’s sport - the Matildas led the way by boycotting their 2015 US tour over a wage dispute - has also played a part.

Stajcic in fact replaced female Dutch coach Hesterine de Reus in September 2014, in similar circumstances albeit far lower profile.

The Matildas last night issued a statement via the players’ union, declaring they were focused on the World Cup in France.

Sam Kerr in action for the Matildas against Chile.

“We would like to acknowledge it’s been a difficult time for everyone involved,” the statement said.

“We would like to thank Staj (Stajcic) for his dedication to the Matildas and more broadly for being a strong advocate for women’s football in Australia.

“As a playing group we are committed to continuing to build on the success we have achieved under his guidance.

“It’s important for us now to stay focused on our common goal, which remains winning the World Cup 2019.

“Our belief within this group is unbreakable and we will continue to challenge ourselves and each other along this journey.”

A panel will be appointed to select the new Matildas coach, with Germany’s World Cup and Olympic gold medal-winning coach Silvia Neid emerging as the leading overseas contender to take over among a host of local options.

FFA is scrambling to find a new coach, having already delayed the appointment of a technical director, while confusion reigns over who’s ultimately accountable for overseeing the Matildas.

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Originally published as Culture experts Leading Teams says Alen Stajcic sacking a symptom of deeper issues at FFA