Adelaide Crows chief’s bombshell backflip on star

Adelaide Crows chief Tim Silvers has made a bombshell call on Taylor Walker’s future with the club after his suspension over a racial slur.

Taylor Walker was recently banned for a racial slur made during a SANFL match. Picture: Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Adelaide Crows chief executive Tim Silvers has remarkably offered no reassurances over the future of Taylor Walker at the club.

Walker copped a six-game ban and a $20,000 fine last week for a racist comment directed at Robbie Young, a North Adelaide player, during a SANFL game in July this year.

The Crows posted a video earlier on Tuesday of Walker apologising for his actions, with Young sitting alongside him.

As the 31-year-old watches on from the sidelines, Silvers was hesitant when quizzed on whether Walker still had a future with the club.

“It’s too early to guarantee that (Walker will stay), but he is contracted and we’ve got to work through a number of different people,” Silvers told SEN.

Taylor Walker has released a video apologising for his racist slur to Robbie Young. Picture: AFC

“(The) culture of our footy club is first and foremost, and we need to get that right and then look at reintegrating Taylor back into the club when the time is right.”

Walker’s video apology was slammed by former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes, who believed the video “is not going to cut it”.

“I’m not sure we’ve learnt anything from that video that we didn’t already read in the statement that he apologised (in) on Friday,” Cornes told Footy Classified on Monday.

Walker is sidelined for six games and copped a $20,000 fine as punishment. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“He had to be courageous and front up like his coach did, like his CEO did at the difficult times and speak and answer those questions so we can learn more about this situation and what the next steps are.”

While Silvers maintained Walker would potentially front the media, it would not happen for some time.

“We were in discussions around when he would front the media and what his apology would look like because he was committed to making the apology,” Silvers said.

Walker filmed a video apology that Kane Cornes believed wouldn’t ‘cut it’. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

“However, his mental health and his wellbeing, he needs to focus on that. He’s now going to take some time off with his family, hopefully able to reset.

“On his return, potentially, I think he will front the media then.

“When the mediation was agreed, there’s certain things that can and cannot be said, so it’s really difficult to understand whether he could or should front the media.

“Even when you do a filmed apology, you need to get the support and endorsement from the other two parties, so it’s a really tricky one to navigate.”

The off-field turmoil has only added to the Crows’ on-field woes.

Matthew Nick’s side languishes in 17th spot on the ladder and has just two wins in their last seven games.

They face a daunting task in the form of high-flying Melbourne on Saturday before capping off a disappointing season against North Melbourne, who are all but confirmed holders of the wooden spoon.