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NPL: Sacked Gold Coast Knights NPL QLD coach Grae Piddick has hit back at the club’s statement

Former Gold Coast Knights coach Grae Piddick has responded to the club’s statement and revealed the real reason behind the Knights' “lingering issues.” FIND OUT THE REAL REASON.

UPDATE:

SACKED Gold Coast Knights coach Grae Piddick has hit back at his former club’s statement, claiming any “lingering issues” were simply related to the difficulty of performing on the back of an extended break while battling personnel issues.

Two days after relieving their grand final winning coach, Knights chairman Adrian Puljich issued a club statement which claimed the decision to sack Piddick was not a “knee-jerk reaction” and that the club was attempting to put a stop to “various lingering issues.”

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While the statement appeared to suggest more was at play behind closed doors, Piddick denied he had lost the support of his players following Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the bottom-ranked Sunshine Coast Wanderers.

Piddick said injury and a lack of fitness upon return were at the core of the Knight’s woes and that most National Premier Leagues clubs were encountering similar issues.

“I would suggest, post-COVID essentially,” Piddick said of the ‘issues’ the club was referring to.

“When you have four months off and people come back, they’re not going to be at full fitness.

“It is disappointing but people underestimate how much of an impact that time off has.

“That’s the reason why we haven’t been as effective at winning games but at the end of the day, we only lost one game and that’s when the keeper got sent off.”

Sacked Gold Coast Knights coach Grae Piddick. Picture: East End Digital
Sacked Gold Coast Knights coach Grae Piddick. Picture: East End Digital

The Knights lost Matthew Henvey early in the season when he decided to return home to Scotland while attacking right back Jaiden Walker is just about to return from injury and midfielder Nic Panetta is slowly returning to fitness.

Piddick also believes the Knights may need a cultural makeover before the next senior coach arrives.

In the last 4½ years, the Knights have parted ways with three coaches – Oscar Langone, Alex Morrison and now Piddick.

The trio is believed to have combined for just seven losses between them in that time.

“They’ll pay big money,” Piddick said of the incoming manager.

“People think there’s a lot of money there and they might splash more money to do the job.

“They have a talented list so they’re still attractive in that sense.”

EARLIER

GRAE Piddick’s sensational axing from the Gold Coast Knights has opened the door to an incredible coaching elevation.

A-League clubs and National Premier Leagues Queensland rivals have already expressed interest in signing the respected football mentor, days after he was given his marching orders following a 4-1 loss to Sunshine Coast Wanderers on Sunday.

It was their only loss of the season so far.

COVID has forced many coaches out of A-League clubs, some foreign who will be unable to return, and the potential reduction in the league’s salary cap could mean coaches with experience in all facets of football are the ones signed as they operate with less numbers.

Piddick ran almost everything in football at the Knights, including opposition scouting, video analysis, sport science and GPS analysis.

It’s understood A-League clubs have already contacted Piddick about his coaching status and jobs that may be on offer.

Some NPL coaces have already indicated to Piddick they will be moving on at the end of the 2020 season and their job was his if he wanted it.

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Piddick is expected to finalise his exit terms with the Knights in the coming 24 hours.

He currently coaches his son’s under-9s team at the Knights and it’s understood he will continue doing so for the remainder of the season.

In a statement to its members, chairman Adrian Puljich said the decision was “not a knee-jerk reaction” the the club’s first loss of the season. .

“Our club administrators are acutely aware that you cannot win every match that you play and the beauty of sport in general is to celebrate your victories and rally together in times of defeat,” Puljich said in the statement.

Gold Coast Knights NPL football (soccer) player Jheison Macuace. Picture: Kleur Photography
Gold Coast Knights NPL football (soccer) player Jheison Macuace. Picture: Kleur Photography

“No club or coach can guarantee success or silverware and no such expectation was placed on Grae Piddick, during his coaching tenure, at the Gold Coast Knights Football Club.

“The decision to relieve Grae Piddick of his first team duties at the mid-way point of a disrupted and increasingly competitive season was made in order to put a stop to various lingering issues arising from within the first team squad, which was inhibiting the team’s ability to regain its form.

“Since March 14 the club has worked proactively with Grae to attempt to arrest these issues, so as to afford the first team squad every opportunity to succeed both on and off the pitch.

“As a club, we worked effectively with Grae, delivering on his requests for additional players and resources.

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“Unfortunately, issues continued to persist, and it was becoming increasingly clear to club administrators, that we were beginning to lose our way.”

Puljich said the club remained grateful to Piddick for his work and stated the club would wait until the end of the season before beginning the search for a permanent head coach.

EARLIER

THE reason behind Grae Piddick’s removal as head coach of the Gold Coast Knights ­National Premier Leagues side remains a mystery after the respected and successful mentor was turfed within hours of full- time on Sunday night.

A year after winning the 2019 NPL Queensland grand final, Piddick and the Knights looked on track for another finals berth and had won six games for the season until a shock 4-1 loss to the bottom-ranked Sunshine Coast Wanderers on Sunday.

The Knights played with 10 men for nearly half the match after goalkeeper Joshua Langdon was sent off but club officials remained largely tight-lipped on Monday.

The club took to social media on Sunday night to advise fans Piddick had been “relieved of first team duties,” effective immediately and promised to release a statement on Monday.

“It was a difficult decision for the club to make but we wish Grae all the best moving forward,” Knights chairman Adrian Puljich told Newscorp.

“Grae is a fantastic coach and mentor to many at the club and we hope he can remain at the club in some capacity.”

It’s understood Piddick had not yet returned from the Sunshine Coast on Sunday when he was informed his Knights coaching tenure had ended.

Players are believed to have received a text message shortly after full-time informing them of the news.

Gold Coast Knights coach Grae Piddick has been sensationally moved on mid-season. Pic: Supplied.
Gold Coast Knights coach Grae Piddick has been sensationally moved on mid-season. Pic: Supplied.

Piddick made no comment to Newscorp, indicating he needed time to process the decision.

Before Sunday’s loss to the Wanderers, Piddick had coached 20 consecutive NPL games without defeat and hadn’t gone down since a 2-1 loss to Lions FC on July 13, 2019.

In the last 4½ years, the Knights have parted ways with three coaches – Oscar Lang­one, Alex Morrison and now Piddick.

The trio is believed to have combined for just seven losses between them in that time.

Gold Coast Knights fans were left dumbfounded by the decision, many taking to social media to express their dis­appointment.

“Not sure what else a coach has to do. Win an NPL championship in his first year and hasn’t lost in 25 games until now! Not sure who is in charge and making these decisions. As a loyal fan I’m disappointed,” one fan wrote.

“Quality coach and a quality bloke, won’t be out of a job for too long,” another said.

Another wrote: “Who knows, it looks crazy but maybe good decision.”

It is unclear who will take over coaching reins for the rest of the NPL season.

In Piddick’s first year as head coach, the club reached the round of 32 in the FFA Cup, narrowly losing to 2017-18 A-League runners-up Newcastle Jets 1-0 at Robina.

The Knights also took out the Gold Coast Premier League championship with two rounds to spare to remain undefeated throughout the entire regular season’s fixtures.

The Knights went on to defeat Broadbeach in the 2019 grand final before stepping up into the National Premier Leagues and going on to win the Queensland grand final in their inaugural season.

EARLIER: A Shocking Knight for Piddick

THE Gold Coast Knights have sensationally released NPL coach Grae Piddick from coaching duties effective immediately.

A year after winning the 2019 NPL Grand Final, Piddick and the Knights looked on track for another finals berth and had won six games for the season until a shock 4-1 loss to the bottom ranked Sunshine Coast Wanderers on Sunday.

On Sunday night, the Knights took to social media to announce they had parted ways with their mentor.

“Effective immediately, the club has relieved Grae Piddick of his first team duties. An official statement will follow,” the club wrote.

Before their loss to the Wanderers, the Knights had not dropped a game since July 2019.

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/football/npl-the-gold-coast-knights-has-sensationally-released-npl-coach-grae-piddick-from-coaching-duties-effective-immediately/news-story/eb18fabbc6fad73966e21539197070db