Sacked Matildas boss Alen Stajcic backs fresh calls for inquiry into his dismissal

He was controversially sacked as Matildas coach under what remain mysterious circumstances, but Alen Stajcic has not been completely lost to the women’s game.

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Former Matildas boss Alen Stajcic has welcomed fresh calls for an independent inquiry into the circumstances of his sacking, even though he insists his only focus is on his new role at the Mariners.

As he was unveiled as one of the founding board members of the new Women in Football advocacy group, launched by figures including FIFA whistleblower Bonita Mersiades, Stajcic said he had been “passionately” supporting the Matildas at the World Cup until their exit at the round of 16 on Sunday.

With Football Federation Australia believed to be seeking a senior figure to oversee the inquiry, Stajcic threw his weight behind calls from Football Coaches Australia to have a say in who that will be.

Alen Stajcic is now coach of the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League. Picture: Getty Images

“For me the closure (on his sacking) is focusing on the Mariners,” he said. “I support and endorse the comments of Phil Moss and the Football Coaches Association.

“I can't focus on the past because that will distract from my new job.

“To be honest, I'm a passionate Australian football fan as I've said many times. Every time I watch the Matildas and the Socceroos win matches and lose matches I share that emotion. This time (watching the World Cup) was no different.

“We all want to see Australian football succeed and find ways of doing things better. That won't change regardless of what role I'm in.”

Stajcic is one of eight figures on the board of Women In Football, whose aims include lobbying for greater numbers of women in positions of authority in the game and which has the backing of FFA chairman Chris Nikou.

Former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic at a press conference following his sacking. Picture: Brett Costello

Launched by NSW Minister for Sport John Sidoti, among its initiatives will be the so-called Trixie’s List, named after the first female coach of the Matildas, Trixie Tagg, and providing details of women interested in taking management or coaching positions in the game.

Mersiades, who is president of the group, noted that FFA’s elite player pathway review announced last week didn’t have any female representation, while just two of 49 chair and CEO roles in the game were filled by women.

“We are not calling for quotas; we believe women are quite capable of getting there on merit if the environment is right,” she said. “But we want to help re-set that environment so it is right.

“What we will do is help women who want to play a more active role, or those who want to be supported in the role they do play, through networking, collaboration and professional development; help the federations and clubs in finding women to serve on their boards and executive committees through Trixie’s List; and help the federations and clubs become more accessible and open to women through education about diversity and inclusion.”

The new body is designed to be complementary to the FFA’s own Women’s Council, whose chair, Ros Moriarty, welcomed WiF’s establishment.