Adam Simpson reveals truth behind awkward press conference moment

Dumped West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson has revealed the truth behind his brutally awkward farewell press conference moment.

Adam Simpson has revealed the truth of his awkward farewell press conference moment with Don Pyke.

It was arguably the tensest moment of a week filled with difficult conversations for sacked West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson - but he’s admitted this one was his fault.

The footy world lapped up the drama as Simpson and Eagles CEO Don Pyke appeared to be singing from different hymn sheets as they sat beside each other at the premiership mentor’s farewell press conference.

Pyke appeared to take Simpson by surprise when he said the club wanted him to coach a farewell game this Sunday when West Coast plays the Brisbane Lions in Perth.

It led to an awkward exchange that went viral on social media - and now Simpson has put his hand up for the disconnect.

“I buggered that one up,” he conceded in an interview with Channel 7’s James Brayshaw on Wednesday night.

“Pykey and I had spoken beforehand and he sort of asked if it (coaching a farewell game) was on the table and I wasn’t quite sure at the time and might have projected the wrong message.

“I wasn’t really keen and I wasn’t clear as I should have been. So by the time we got to the press conference … I reckon that was on me that one.”

Adam Simpson has revealed the truth of his awkward farewell press conference moment with Don Pyke.

The admission came after Pyke had attempted to hand Simpson a fitting send-off.

“It’s important we pay respect for what he’s done for our club and recognise the wonderful contribution he’s made,” Pyke told the gathered media.

“With that in mind, we’ve requested Adam coach the side one final time this weekend. As much as today is the announcement of the finish, we’d love Adam to coach one more time.”

A surprised Simpson quipped: “We haven’t made that call just yet, Pykey, if I was going to coach this week.”

Pyke replied: “We’d like you to.”

Pressed on whether he would coach in this weekend’s Round 18 game at Optus Stadium, Simpson said: “I just need to get through today, I’m not quite sure yet, we’ll work through that.”

Two days after the press conference, Simpson said he was even more certain not coaching again is the right move.

“Looking at how it all works, after your press conference you go home and slip straight into a different mode,” he said.

“Having match committee and press conferences and pre-game … and all those things, while I could have done it, I don’t think I needed to.”

Simpson also revealed what he said during another viral exchange as he walked into the press conference.

There was speculation Simpson had delivered a final message to young superstar Harley Reid, but it was actually another Eagles player, Bailey Williams, who Simpson spoke to.

“Bailey’s got the dirtiest red moustache I’ve ever seen and I said ‘you need to get rid of that moustache’ and that’s what I said,” he told Channel 7.

“He looks like Goose off Top Gun, it’s not a good look.

“I said ‘mate you’ve got to get rid of that moustache’ and that’s what I said, I didn’t even know Harley was there.”