MPNFL: Pearcedale parts ways with coach Justin Hamilton

A sacked MPNFL coach has given the club a whack on the way out, describing the handling of his axing as ‘really poor’.

Justin Hamiton coaching Pearcedale in 2019. Picture: Josie Hayden

Angry and disappointed.

These were some of the emotions felt by Justin “Boris” Hamilton on Wednesday night after being sacked as Pearcedale coach.

Hamilton wanted to continue in the role and was surprised when the club chose to advertise for coaches in July.

He said his sacking comes after he had been made to wait, not knowing if he had the job or not, for almost two months.

“I have been sacked tonight as Pearcedale coach after eight weeks of no contact from the club and awaiting a meeting from seven weeks ago,” Hamilton said on Wednesday night.

“They can’t tell me who has taken over but had the nerve to ask if I’d be interested in taking on a line coach (role) with the new coach.”

Hamilton added: “As for the president and the committee, the way they have handled this is an absolute disgrace and I want nothing to do with any of them.”

Justin Hamilton took over as Pearcedale coach in 2019.

When Hamiton took over as Pearcedale coach in 2019, his plan was to build the club by promoting youth.

“My thought process is to build a side, not buy a side,” he said at the time.

“We’ve got really good kids coming up.”

The Dales made significant progress this year, winning four of their 13 games.

Hamilton said he felt he had the club on the right track.

“I wish the playing group the best with all the young kids I have developed in the past two years,” he said.

“We built a strong club culture and had really put a foot print for the club going forward.”

Pearcedale president Jeff McGuiness said the decision to change coaches was made in the best interests of the club.

“The football department made a decision to advertise the job which he (Hamilton) knew, to see what else is out there,” McGuiness said.

“And we got a candidate we thought was too good to refuse.

“The whole time we were up front and honest. Obviously it’s dragged out a bit longer with Zoom meetings and that sort of thing.”

McGuiness said he was sorry Hamilton felt disappointed but said, “we’ve got a job to do”.

“Every decision we make we’ve got to make for what we think is right for the club,” McGuiness said.

“Now some people will disagree with some decisions we make but…we’re in a position where we know all the ins and outs and all the repercussions of what decisions you do make.

“These decisions aren’t taken lightly.

“I’m not someone who sits on my hands, I’ve spoken to a lot of people about the direction we need to go.

“Look, I can understand why he feels a bit disappointed but at the end of the day it’s football and we’ve just got to do what we think is right.

“Boris is a personal friend, I played football with him, but it’s all about what we think is right.

“And every decision I make will be made for that club and what I think is right.”

McGuiness said an announcement on the new Pearcedale coach was expected in the coming days.