Beau Zorko steps down as Broadbeach Cats QAFL coach

The Broadbeach Cats preparations for the looming QAFL season have been thrown into disarray following the exit of coach Beau Zorko due to escalating tensions with the man who has now replaced him.

THE Broadbeach Cats preparations for the looming QAFL season have been thrown into disarray following the exit of coach Beau Zorko due to escalating tensions with the man who has now replaced him.

The relationship between Zorko and football director Craig O’Brien became so fractured the board was forced to meet on Tuesday to decide its path forward, opting to appoint O’Brien as the senior coach after Zorko chose to walk away.

Broadbeach merged with its aligned sports club recently to sure up its financial position before undergoing a restructure of the football department, bringing in O’Brien.

A “raw” Zorko said he was ultimately not supported by the man who was brought in to be his mentor following a 12-month period where the team had made big strides forward.

Broadbeach Cats QAFL coach Beau Zorko addresses the players. Picture credit: Travis Johnson.

“There has been a complete disconnect between both parties, around the direction the club was going in and how it was being done,” Zorko said as the club scrambles to fix the mess before its first game of the season on April 18.

“The disagreement was between the way the football program is run and the way we introduced a leadership program that I feel, have been the catalyst to the group really getting into a good space at the moment.

“I have been incredibly disappointed at the actions that have ultimately led to this decision.

“One thing that is crucial to the leadership program, is that you have to live it and “do the do”.

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“Myself, many of the support and the players were living the values and trademarks we set and the friction came with others not living that.

“You can’t do this job without really good support and really good people around you and that is an area that was ultimately lacking. I had the full support of the playing group, my general manager (Jason Cotter) and some of my coaching staff.

“I didn’t have the support of some who positioned themselves in a way that eventually led to the fracture and disagreement.

“I made the decision for the right reasons, in the best interest of my own personal values and integrity and what I stood for as a coach.

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“I’m pretty raw at the moment. I feel complete blindsided by the events that have taken place, but leave holding my head high that I stand for the right things.”

It’s understood many of the players are fuming over the club’s moves and are considering walking away.

Broadbeach confirmed Zorko’s departure in a statement.

“Broadbeach AFC has accepted the resignation of senior coach Beau Zorko effective immediately,” the statement read.

“We thank Beau Zorko for his contribution to our football club over the last year and a half and wish him & his family all the best for their future.

“The BAFC senior committee have restructured and appointed Craig O’Brien as senior coach for 2020.

“We appreciate our members patience currently and Craig and the playing group has the full support of the club’s wonderful volunteers and members.”