Luke Beattie handed Kyneton’s interim coaching role after surprise axing of Mark Adamson one month out from Bendigo Football League finals

LATEST: OUTGOING Kyneton coach Mark Adamson says he is “bitterly disappointed” to have been axed four rounds out from Bendigo Football League finals.

Mark Adamson coach of Kyneton addresses his players at quarter time during the Bendigo Football League match between Gisborne and Kyneton played at Gardiner Reserve in Gisborne on Friday 3rd April, 2015. Picture: Mark Dadswell

KYNETON premiership player Luke Beattie will spearhead the club’s Bendigo Football League finals push after the shock axing of Mark Adamson with four rounds remaining in the season.

The Tigers released a statement on their website on Tuesday night, confirming they had parted ways with Adamson after he “failed to meet the standards required to be the leader of the Tigers”.

As Local Footy revealed, Adamson missed a compulsory training session he called for Sunday morning after the club’s 68-point loss to Golden Square, forcing the club’s hand.

“There was a training session called and there was a non-attendance, that led to the final call,” Tigers president Rob Waters told Local Footy.

“The actions weren’t to the standards we require in our senior coach so unfortunately a decision had to be made.”

Adamson told the club about a month ago he would not coach on in 2016 due to work commitments.

“We’re all disappointed and so is Mark,” Waters said.

“But there’s no bitterness on our part, it’s just one of those things that has to be done and we’ve done it.”

Adamson issued a statement on Wednesday, declaring he was bitterly disappointed with the decision.

“It is bitterly disappointing to be removed and replaced with 4 games remaining and on the cusp of a potential finals series, given the history,” he said.

“The club has taken an option that they feel is in its best interests, but I firmly believe that other options were available to the club in relation to action against a senior coach failing to meet specific club requirements.”

The club had planned to tell its playing group of Adamson’s intention to step aside at the end of 2015 on Thursday night.

Reigning best and fairest winner Ben Weightman admitted he was shocked when he heard Adamson had been sacked on Tuesday morning.

“It’s a bit of a shock, especially at this time of year, but obviously there’s reasons behind it all and it’s what the club thought was best,” Weightman said.

The star on-baller said he was confident Kyneton’s playing group would rally behind Beattie as they look to end a 12-year finals drought.

“Luke has been around the club for a fair while, has played in a premiership there and he’s a good fella,” he said.

“He’s well-known and well-liked and he’s one of the favourite sons down there.

“He knows the direction we’re going in...I don’t think it will interrupt us.”

Adamson, a former Bendigo Gold VFL assistant coach, was heavily involved in rebuilding the Tigers’ senior list after their 2013 hiatus.

He took the club to a seventh-placed finish last year, a position it has built on in 2015.

Kyneton sits one game clear of Castlemaine, Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat in fifth.

Waters said the club had considered whether a change of coach would jeopardise its chances of a top-five finish.

Beattie is a former assistant coach with Ballarat Football League club Sunbury and also coached Daylesford.

Waters said Kyneton had “great confidence” in its interim coach, who is among a group of contenders being considered for the senior post next year.

He thanked Adamson for his contribution over the past two years.

“These tributes to outgoing coaches can sound hollow, but no one should ever forget the job Mark did in getting us up and going,” he said.

Beattie’s first match at the helm is against reigning premier Strathfieldsaye on Saturday.