David Penberthy claims top Adelaide Crows players were prepared to leave club if Brenton Sanderson stayed

A POSSE of leading Crows players were prepared to abandon the club if Brenton Sanderson kept his job, claims David Penberthy.

23/06/2014 CHP: 23/06/2014 CHP: AFL - Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval. Patrick Dangerfield under pressure from Andrew Swallow. Photo Sarah Reed.

BREAKFAST radio personality and Advertiser columnist David Penberthy claims up to six key Crows players were considering abandoning the club if Brenton Sanderson retained his role as senior coach.

What a total dog act by the adelaide football club. So incompetently handled too. An embarrassment

— David Penberthy (@penbo) September 17, 2014

Speaking on FIVEaa this morning, Penberthy, a Crows ambassador, was critical of the decision to dump the coach after three seasons at the helm, while citing the “apparent emergence of a high-level of player disenchantment at his coaching style” as a key factor in the sacking.

“Based on some conversations with very well-placed sources, a delegation of players including Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker, Ricky Douglas and apparently also the Crouch brothers (Brad and Matt) were all prepared or considering walking from the club if Sanderson stayed.”

Crows chairman Rob Chapman refuted those claims at a press conference this morning.

“The players are just one group of stakeholders — we did listen to them, as you do in all good reviews,” Chapman said.

“That gun was never levelled at my head. None of our players would ever do that to us. I am very proud of our playing group. They are very disappointed themselves with the season they have had. None ever put a gun to my head.”

Originally published as David Penberthy claims top Adelaide Crows players were prepared to leave club if Brenton Sanderson stayed