AFL 2020: Dean Solomon sacked by Gold Coast Suns, Andy Welsh conspiracy theory

A former AFL and Channel 7 star has gone public with a bizarre theory there are sinister motives behind the shock retrenchment of an AFL coach.

Dean Solomon is moving on.

Essendon great and former Channel 7 star Andrew Welsh has gone public with his conspiracy theory surrounding the shock axing of Gold Coast Suns assistant coach Dean Solomon.

Solomon was one of five members of the Suns coaching staff to be retrenched on Monday as the AFL announced sweeping redundancies inside its head office and football clubs.

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In a dark day for football the AFL announced approximately 20 per cent of roles across its many operations will disappear as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which has already turned 2020 into the league’s most turbulent season in memory.

On a bloody day for the Gold Coast Suns, the club confirmed earlier reports on Monday that Solomon and four other high profile members of the club’s coaching staff have not been offered contracts beyond the 2020 season.

They were reportedly given a heads up the announcement was coming last week — told there was no place for them at the club in 2021.

The Suns announced Monday Ashley Prescott, Nick Malceski, Andrew Swallow and Justin Koschitzke have all been told they will need to find new clubs at the end of the year.

Fremantle also announced Monday assistants Anthony Rock and Michael Prior, along with strength and conditioning coach Jason Weber, have also lost their jobs.

The Suns blamed the slashed football department soft cap for the 2020 season — and the expected further reductions which will reportedly see the football department budget slashed from $10 million to as little as $6 million next season.

However, Welsh took to Twitter on Monday to claim there may be much more to the cold decision to move Solomon on after nine years at the Suns.

Solomon was Suns coach Stuart Dew’s senior assistant in 2020 and he was in 2017 named interim coach to finish out the season following the parting of ways with former coach Rodney Eade.

Dean Solomon leading the Suns in 2017.

Solomon, a former Essendon premiership-winning teammate of Welsh’s, remains highly regarded in the industry and was reportedly the runner-up to Justin Longmuir when Fremantle conducted its extensive coach appointment process at the end of 2019.

It’s why Welsh claims there may be more to the axing of Solomon.

“This smells a bit for mine, perhaps a senior coach seeing how good @SollySolomon

is and is threatened but will hide behind soft cap decision,” Welsh posted on Twitter in a stunning accusation towards Dew.

“No doubt every club will want to talk to him but the call doesn’t seem like a GC best interest call.”

Former Essendon player Robert Shaw also couldn’t believe the Suns’ decision.

“Not specifically directed to Solly but unashamed bias due to respect and love for the bloke,” Shaw posted to Twitter.

“But $$$ over people will see so many really good talented club people across all clubs lost to the game. @SollySolomon shouldn’t be lost to football.”

The Suns released a statement from general manager of football operations Jon Haines to explain the decision.

Stuart Dew has led the Suns to their best ever season on the field.

“Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, every AFL football department is currently considering plans to support its playing group with a significant reduction in the football soft cap,” he said.

“This is a challenging time for everyone in the AFL and a range of difficult choices have been contemplated.

“Like all clubs in the competition, we have been considering how we create a football program that can deliver against our football strategy with a different set of resources.

“As part of this process, we have been unable to offer a number of SUNS football department staff an opportunity for 2021 and beyond.

“This is an incredibly tough period as we have had to say goodbye to good people who have made a significant contribution to the Gold Coast SUNS. We will always be thankful to those affected for their hard work and dedication.”