Matildas offer statement of thanks to sacked coach Alen Stajcic

As more information on his axing slowly comes to light, the Matildas have issued a tribute to sacked coach Alen Stajcic and vowed it won’t disrupt their World Cup dreams.

The Matildas have vowed to not let it disrupt their plans. (Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

• Matildas target World Cup winner
• Stajcic sacking reveals deeper problems at FFA

The Matildas have issued a tribute to sacked coach Alen Stajcic, as confusion over his axing continues to rage more than four days later.

As the Matildas spoke out, The Daily Telegraph has learnt that the findings of a player welfare audit which were used in part to precipitate Satjcic’s sacking had already been addressed in a program agreed to last year by Football Federation Australia and Stajcic, with the support of the players’ union.

Part of that was a two-day leadership and culture workshop in Sydney, at the end of which the Matildas on Tuesday issued a statement which reinforced their determination to succeed at the World Cup in France in June.

It seems the culture had deteriorated under Stajcic. (Val Migliaccio)

“We, the Matildas, would like to acknowledge it’s been a difficult time for everyone involved,” the statement read. “We would like to thank Staj for his dedication to the Matildas and more broadly for being a strong advocate for women’s football in Australia.

“As a playing group we are committed to continuing to build on the success we have achieved under his guidance. It’s important for us now to stay focused on our common goal, which remains winning the World Cup 2019.

“Our belief within this group is unbreakable and we will continue to challenge ourselves and each other along this journey.”

The Matildas have vowed to not let it disrupt their plans. (Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

But FFA’s continued reluctance to provide specifics around Stajcic’s exit continued to cause ructions, in particular over the two reviews conducted with the players and cited last Saturday by FFA to justify in part sacking the Matildas boss.

The first of those was a player welfare review conducted in conjunction with the PFA, with the questions approved by all parties including Stajcic.

In response, a program was agreed by FFA and Stajcic to address the issues raised in the review, with the support of the PFA, but the review was later cited in Stajcic’s termination.

Statement from @TheMatildas https://t.co/ARtGlf88wv pic.twitter.com/ceYs4BRZDc

— The PFA (@thepfa) January 22, 2019

“The workshop conducted this week with the Players was created exclusively to address the issues raised by the FFA/PFA Player Wellbeing Audit,” confirmed FFA CEO David Gallop.

“It was a clear and widespread view that the workshop was necessary to improve where things were at in the team environment.”

Although Gallop has emphasised that more factors than just the reviews were involved in Stajcic’s dismissal, the fact that the findings of the first review appear to have been addressed last year will add to the confusion surrounding it.

FFA has so far only offered the phrase an “unsatisfactory environment” around the team as explanation, citing the need for confidentiality.

Gallop also moved to clarify confusion over the initial stimulus for the second review, undertaken by gender equity advocacy group Our Watch.

Although a spokesman said in a statement that FFA had initiated the survey, Gallop said the first approach had come from Our Watch itself.

“Our Watch initially approached us when funding became available to them,” Gallop said. “After further discussions we entered into a formal partnership.

“In August we decided that we should do a culture survey. OW indicated that they were intending to do a survey as part of our partnership anyway. We agreed.”

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Originally published as Matildas offer statement of thanks to sacked coach Alen Stajcic