Sacked Crows coach Brenton Sanderson addresses media with a perplexed smile

DESPITE it all there was room for laughter from Brenton Sanderson on Wednesday. But it was more the laughter of a perplexed man seeking understanding, than it was of a man enjoying himself.

18/09/14 - Brenton Sanderson talks to the media at West Lakes after being losing his job as Adelaide Crows senior coach yesterday. Photo Tom Huntley

DESPITE it all there was room for laughter from Brenton Sanderson on Wednesday. But it was more the laughter of a perplexed man seeking understanding, than it was of a man enjoying himself.

In his seven-minute farewell press conference to his Adelaide coaching job, and standing only metres from the well-tended oval where he had overseen countless hours of training sessions, Sanderson was moved to laughter twice by the waiting press pack.

Once when a litany of his travails was listed — no Kurt Tippett, restricted draft picks, injured key players — and once when he was reminded of all the nice things his now ex-chairman, Rob Chapman, had said of him in the morning.

In the same spot around six hours earlier Chapman had said of Sanderson: “I’ve said it often, Brenton is a good coach, strategically, tactically, game-day he’s very, very sound.”

You would have thought he was hiring, not firing the man.

When the quote was relayed to Sanderson and the question asked why then was he getting the boot it prompted that rueful chuckle and a quiet reply of “I’m not sure’’.

Dressed in a black suit and white shirt, his usual blue Crows polo shirt presumably sitting in the rubbish bin in his office, it was a calm and collected Sanderson who fronted one of the biggest footy press conferences seen in SA for many years.

He admitted the last 24 hours were “a bit of a roller-coaster ride emotionally’’ because he had not seen the end was nigh.

In making that admission he effectively skewered the fiction the Crows had attempted to perpetuate the previous day when they belatedly confirmed Sanderson’s exit by pretending the “football club and senior coach Brenton Sanderson have agreed to part ways’’.

Generally it takes at least two people to agree on something. It only takes one person to fire another though.

“It’s been a challenging 24 hours for me because I would still love to be coaching the team,’’ he said.

If he was feeling bitter about the sudden nature of his demise he did a fine job of covering it up.

He denied reports that he had lost the players, said he was unaware if any players had issued an “it’s him or me” ultimatum and maintained he has a good relationship with the board, even if he didn’t agree with its decision.

“I spoke to a lot of the players today and there would be no one happier than me if these boys move forward and won a premiership,’’ he said.

“I have loved my time here — I have become very passionate about this footy club.

“If these guys keep improving they will be very hard to beat.”

As for the future, Sanderson said he would take a month or so off before making any decisions, but that he was keen to remain in football and keep coaching.

“I have a commerce degree and a pilot’s licence, but coaching is what I love doing.

“Coaching is still very much in my blood.’’