Former West Coast stars Dean Cox and Ash Hansen could be in the running to be the Eagles’ next senior coach, but the club wants Adam Simpson to have one last hurrah in Sunday’s AFL clash with Brisbane in Perth.
The Eagles’ board of directors decided Monday night that the time was right to move on from Simpson, and the decision was made public Tuesday morning.
Simpson appeared before the media alongside chief executive Don Pyke and chairman Paul Fitzpatrick on Tuesday afternoon to explain the “mutual” decision.
However, the 2018 championship-winning coach was completely blindsided when Pyke announced the board’s intention to give Simpson one last hurrah for Sunday’s game against the Lions.
“It’s important that we pay tribute to what he has done for our club and recognise his wonderful contribution,” Pyke told reporters.
“With that in mind, we have asked Adam to coach the team one last time this weekend. Although today is the announcement of the end, we would love to have Adam coach once again.”
Simpson, surprised by the proposal, joked: “We haven’t made that decision yet, Pykey, whether I’m going to train this week.”
Pyke insisted: “We would like you to do that.”
Adam Simpson received an unexpected offer after being sacked by West Coast
Simpson has not yet decided whether he will accept the management’s offer. If he does, it would be a memorable farewell for someone who is still adored by Eagles fans despite a disastrous run of results on the field in recent years.
“I haven’t made that call yet,” Simpson said.
‘Obviously a decision has been made (to change coach) and it is mutual.
“I feel like it’s the right time. I’ve been pretty stoic over the last few years about the direction the club needs to take.
‘It’s a slow process that will take some time.
‘Someone else will come in now, a bit like when I replaced Woosha (John Worsfold) at the end of 2013.
“Someone comes with energy and manages to grow with the group. I think it’s the right decision.”
Former Adelaide coach Pyke has ruled himself out as West Coast’s next full-time senior coach.
Instead, Pyke will play a key role in his role as CEO in choosing the right person for the job.
Cox, the Eagles star who is an assistant in Sydney, is considered the early favourite.
Former West Coast striker Hansen, now an assistant at Carlton, could also be a contender.
Don Pyke offered Simpson the chance to coach one last game this Sunday
Interim coach Schofield and Fremantle assistant Jaymie Graham are other highly respected figures expected to be sounded out.
“We’ll cast the net as wide as we can to find the best person,” Pyke said.
‘We will draw up a list of people to approach and start talking about how to lead the club in the future.
‘I know people will start speculating about who.
‘We have an opportunity with a group of players that we believe is on the rise to find someone who has that energy, drive and passion to take the group where we want to go.
“He (Cox) would certainly be a name we would consider.”
Eagles players gave Simpson a rapturous reception at the end of Tuesday’s news conference.
Simpson, who was under contract until the end of 2025, was nearly fired late last year and knew the pressure was on him again.
“We respect that the last three years have been tough for the club and particularly for Adam as manager,” Pyke said.
“The conversations I had with Adam and the board told me it was time. It was time for a change, it was time to revamp our program.
‘And to Adam’s great credit, he always puts the club first, and he respected that that was going to be the position and he had no more to give.
“We have asked Adam to consider coaching the team for the last time this weekend. We would love for Adam to do so once again.”
The early separation is estimated to cost West Coast around $1 million.
Simpson has been in charge of West Coast since late 2013, guiding the club to the 2015 grand final and the 2018 flag.
But the Eagles’ fall from grace in recent years has resulted in the spotlight being focused squarely on him.
West Coast have won just eight of their last 57 matches, and the pressure has been further intensified by lacklustre defeats to Hawthorn and Melbourne in the past two weeks.
Reports of a leaked text message last week in which three players expressed their desire for Simpson to be traded added further pressure to the club.