Stuart Dew sacked: Gold Coast explain shock decision, respond to Damien Hardwick speculation
Last week, Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans publicly backed Stuart Dew – so what’s happened since? The Suns open up on the decision to sack their senior coach.
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Gold Coast chairman Bob East says the board is “unashamedly holding this club to account” by moving to sack senior coach Stuart Dew immediately.
The Suns board convened on Monday night and voted to terminate Dew’s contract with a year left to run.
East said the board’s decision to axe Dew seven weeks out from the end of the regular season was “unanimous”.
Dew signed a two-year contract extension in July last year but will not see out even the first season of his latest deal.
He was part-way through his sixth year in charge of the Suns.
Steven King will act as interim coach to the end of the season, with the Suns sitting 7-9 and needing to win at least six of their final seven games to feature in the finals.
“I want to make it absolutely crystal clear that we are unashamedly holding this club to account at a very high level,” East said on Tuesday.
“There is a clear gap between where we currently sit and where our expectations lie and the senior coach selection process will be solely designed to close that gap.”
The board has instructed chief executive Mark Evans to return to them with a plan to identify and appoint a new senior coach.
East said the decision to terminate Dew’s position now and not at the end of the season was made to give the club “clear air” to begin the process of appointing its next senior coach.
“In no way whatsoever have we been influenced by media, by social media, by speculation around who may or may not be available, by the AFL (or) the AFL industry at large,” he said.
“It is crystal clear to us that this decision was necessary and we will make the next steps meaningful to ensure that this club goes on for future success.”
LATEST: DAMIEN HARDWICK OPEN TO CONVERSATION WITH SUNS
Evans publicly backed Dew last Wednesday, saying he had the CEO’s “full support”.
Asked what had changed in the five days between his comments and the board vote to remove Dew, Evans said it would not be right to have made the decision and not act on it immediately.
“Once you’ve made the decision you’ve made the decision,” he said.
“It would seem wrong to continue (with Dew as coach) after that decision was made.
“We’re not saying we give up on this season, but once we identified that Stuey wasn’t going to be the ongoing coach for us, the best thing to do was to deal with it immediately.
“We think we have a great playing list, we have some experts in our football department and we think we need a new senior coach to get to the level we need to get to.”
The Suns have lost three of their past four matches, leaving their hopes of a maiden finals appearance on a knife edge.
But the losses to Collingwood and Port Adelaide over the past fortnight were not the catalyst for Dew’s exit, Evans said.
“This can’t be about one particular game or one particular fortnight,” he said.
“This time last year we were better placed in wins and particularly in percentage so it feels like there is a gap between us and the best in the competition.”
The Suns host St Kilda at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday.
What shock Dew sacking will cost Suns
Gold Coast has sacked coach Stuart Dew after failing to see improvement in a year where they had hoped to play finals.
The news was confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday morning on the Gold Coast and speculation immediately turned to a possible approach to former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.
Dew didn’t turn up to the club on Tuesday and did not front the presser.
Gold Coast co-captain Touk Miller said it was an “emotional time” for Dew and the club and paid tribute to his impact over the six-year tenure as head coach.
“For us it’s just about Stuey,” Miller said.
“Our thoughts are with him and his family at the moment.
“Obviously, he’s done a lot for this club. We’ve backed him in as much as we could … we’re just thinking about him, his family, how he’s doing, the connection with him and also what he’s done for me personally, as a footballer and a person.
“It’s obviously an emotional time for him and the club.”
Miller would not be drawn on what the decision meant for the rest of the season.
“That’s probably not what I’m here to answer,” he said.
“I’m here to talk about Stuey and what he’s done for the club.
“We’re thinking about him, trying to stay connected as much as we can and also (remember) what he’s done for us as a football club.”
Dew was contracted for 2024 but the Herald Sun reported that he was coaching for his future in the last eight weeks of the season.
The club eventually acted after a second heavy loss in a row, this time a fighting defeat against a Port Adelaide.
The Herald Sun understands he has clauses in his contract which might allow the club to pay out only six months of his salary, potentially as low as $300,000.
The Suns were due to train at 10am however players have been told there will be no session today and that they can go home.
The players were told of the decision on Tuesday morning in a decision which will shock many given their close relationship to Dew.
Yet player managers of prominent Suns figures have in recent days said if a coach of Hardwick’s calibre replaced Dew their clients would quickly move on.
Geelong premiership player and St Kilda assistant Steven King will take over as the club’s interim coach for the rest of the season.
King is a highly-regarded senior coach in waiting who cut his teeth with the Western Bulldogs under Luke Beveridge.
Damien Hardwick is overseas for seven weeks in Europe and is keen to coach again next season.
While his former chief executive Brendon Gale said this week he would be surprised if he coached as early as next year, he is keen to explore the Gold Coast option.
Industry speculation has linked Geelong premiership coach Chris Scott to the role for some months but he is contracted to 2024 and likely to be extended into the future this year.
The Suns had told Dew when he was re-extended next year for two seasons they believed the list was capable of playing finals.
With the club at 7-9 and almost certainly not playing finals for the first time in their history the decision will give them clean air for the rest of the season to consider their options.
Dew told the Herald Sun last Tuesday night he had the backing of Suns chief executive Mark Evans amid reports he would be sacked imminently.
“He (Evans) absolutely told me it (the report) was unfounded,” Dew said.
Dew said the players approached him about the reports on last Tuesday.
“The players are filthy. They’re like, ‘you’re our coach mate, we’ve signed knowing you’re going to be our coach and we’re in it.’
“They asked me ‘what do you want to do about (the claims)’.
“I said boys don’t worry about it.”
About his future, Dew also said last week: “I’ll know before anyone if I’m not the one.
“We are building something … everyone’s on board.
“Noah Anderson doesn’t sign, Ben King doesn’t sign if they can’t see success.”
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