Greenvale Kangaroos sent email to club officials threatening to boycott remainder of the season over coach exit

A feud between players and administration has erupted over the exit of a senior coach, writes PAUL AMY and TYLER LEWIS.

The Greenvale Kangaroos are in turmoil with a dispute between administrators and players. Picture : George Salpigtidis

Cricket Victoria says it will not intervene in a rift between the Greenvale Kangaroos administration and the Premier Cricket club’s coach and players.

Two weeks ago the players threatened to stay off the field unless the board reappointed senior coach Damian Shanahan.

In an email to Kangaroos president Bruce Kent, first XI captain Josh Trembearth and third XI skipper Hammad Siddiqui said Shanahan had the “overwhelming support’’ of the players and they wanted him to stay.

The email was dated February 2.

It finished with demands from the playing group that by 9pm on February 3 Shanahan’s contract be extended for a “minimum of two years’’ and that Cricket Victoria “conduct an external review of the club to identify and resolve the serious issues that clearly currently exist’’.

“Failure to exercise these activities by the deadline will result in players in the Premier men’s squad refusing to take the field for the remaining match days this season,’’ the email said.

At the time the Kangaroos were halfway through a two-day game against Prahran at Greenvale Reserve.

The players did take the field and were dismissed for 109 as they chased 9-295.

They were forced to follow on.

Despite being in a number of winning positions this season, the Kangaroos are on the bottom of the ladder with one win, one draw and 11 losses.

Greenvale players made it clear they wanted Damian Shanahan’s contract to be extended. Picture: Peter Ristevski

But the letter has revealed the players’ discontent with the administration of the club, which was formed by a merger of long-time District/Premier affiliate North Melbourne and community club Greenvale in 2013.

Greenvale Kangaroos continue to field men’s teams in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.

The email stated that the committee had agreed to meet the players to discuss the future of the respected Shanahan, a stalwart of Victorian club cricket who was appointed coach in 2020-21 after a long stay at Geelong.

But before the meeting could take place the club told Shanahan he would not be reappointed after this season, Siddiqui and Trembearth said.

They said the Kangaroos had a “general toxic culture which discourages players, parents and coaches from participating in off-field activities’’.

There was also a lack of “any presence from committee members at Premier men’s games/training’’ and a “lack of promotion of a code of conduct or generally encouraging a harmonious behaviour’.

Siddiqui and Trembearth said Greenvale Kangaroos had had eight coaches in the past 10 years.

Kent confirmed this morning that the club would not be reappointing Shanahan.

“The fact is that our senior coach had a three-year contract that expires at the conclusion of this season in March,’’ he said.

“The committee sees a need for a change in direction and to appoint a director of cricket, a new senior coach and a number of development coaches for the 2023-24 season going forward and that is what we are doing now.

“The senior coach’s term is finishing shortly and the club is down the process of appointing a director of coaching, a senior coach and relevant assistant coaches.

“We think that will ultimately be the best for the club.”

Club president Bruce Kent confirmed that Shanahan would not be reappointed. Picture: Angie Basdekis

Kent – who has been president of the Greenvale Kangaroos since the merger in 2013 and is also the long-time president of Greenvale Football Club – said he responded to the email and “and said that for a start there were a number of allegations made that weren’t correct’’.

He said the players had agreed to play out the season and he was hopeful there would not be an exodus after it.

“It’s worrying and it’s a serious thing,” he said.

“We had another committee meeting at the club and it was unanimously resolved that we would be appointing a new director of cricket and senior coach next year after the current senior coach’s period has expired.

“We suggested that there should be more dialogue with the players and that they should continue to play, which we were very thankful of.

“Obviously this is an awkward situation, we expect that there will be more discussions and if some of the players leave then that will be disappointing.

“Premier Cricket clubs always have a turnover of players, but no one in any sport – whatever it is – likes losing some of your better players.

“We will be working with them and, particularly the new director of cricket, will be working with them.”

Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins said he was aware of the email and the situation at Greenvale Kangaroos, but CV would not conduct any review of the club.

Shanahan at the crease in Premier Cricket in 2003. Picture: Damien Horan

“We’re always concerned about clubs and problems they may have,’’ he said.

“It’s our responsibility to show care and interest in all of our clubs.

“However, this is entirely a club matter and it’s not something that we need to intervene in.

“It’s not our area of jurisdiction to resolve internal club disputes. That is something that needs to be resolved between the Greenvale board and the players who wrote the letter.’’

Cummins said Greenvale Kangaroos’ presence in the fast-growing north-west of Melbourne was “strategically very important’’ to Victorian cricket.

He said there had been some positive developments at Greenvale, including the development of a women’s section and the recruitment of Test player James Bracey.

The club has female teams in Premier seconds and thirds and has ambitions to enter the Premier firsts competition.

Shanahan could not be contacted.

Originally published as Greenvale Kangaroos sent email to club officials threatening to boycott remainder of the season over coach exit