Dear valued GC SUNS Member,
Following a review of our football department, it has become clear that we have changes to make to ensure that our club takes the next step to success.
Yesterday, after six years, Guy McKenna and the club came to an agreement that he would not continue as coach of the Gold Coast SUNS.
It was a tough decision, but the right one.
As a mentor, friend and coach, Guy has played as significant role as anyone in building and establishing our football club. He will always be a part of our club, and we will always celebrate his role as our foundation coach.
This is why I won’t make public all the elements of our review.
I have been criticised for this in the media.
It runs contrary to my personal values and those of our club to engage in conversation that demeans his legacy at our club.
If this stance deserves criticism, then I am happy to accept it.
Building towards success
The club has undertaken a significant review of the football department, and the review identified a number of issues.
Clearly, in our opinion a change of senior coach is an important part of preserving and growing our success.
However, the review also recommended the following:
- Enhancing the coaching program to ensure increased teaching, game plan and skill development
- A restructure of our High Performance & Sports Medical Team
- Increased resources in Sports Medical Team
- Additional recruiting assistance, including appointing a full time recruiting resource, a full time data analyst and several part-time talent identification staff.
- Commitment to recruit additional Rookie listed players for 2015, including experienced players to ensure a more competitive effort and development pathway through the NEAFL
- Re-alignment of the Player Welfare team to provide two dedicated resources to continue to drive our leadership and off field development program
An implementation plan has been prepared and will be put forward to the board at our next meeting on 23rd October for approval.
These recommendations and a new coach offer the club the best chance of success.
We have a great team, and a great opportunity to build.
The club, the team, and the board are excited and united for the next stage of the journey.
We have a great playing list that are committed to staying at our club.
Over the next couple of weeks our List Strategy Manager, Scott Clayton, and General Manager of Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft, will once again enhance our list through the free agency and player exchange period. In November we head to the NAB AFL Draft with three selections (7, 14 & 27) inside the first 30.
The team will be fully capable of achieving everything we have planned.
It’s now time to find the best coach for our club to continue our momentum to ultimate success.
The process to find that person has already started with the establishment of a sub-committee.
As a member of the Gold Coast SUNS, you should be the first to know that the board has ratified the appointment of a selection panel comprising of Directors Alan MacKenzie and Tony Cochrane, Acting Chief Executive Andrew Travis and General Manager of Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft.
Andrew Travis will chair this committee, and has been given authority to appoint an Independent facilitator and an experienced football consultant should the committee desire.
It is vitally important we get that process right so we recruit the best coach to take the club forward.
Let’s not forget what we have done together with the Gold Coast community and our supporters around the nation:
- Secured an AFL team which is now respected on and off the field
- Built a magnificent stadium and a match day experience that has other stadiums across the country envious
- Boldly recruited a young crop of players who have the ability to deliver success
- Achieved the highest levels of engagement with our community, which has seen our players commit more than 20,000 hours of community engagement over the last four years; double most of our competitors
Your ongoing support is the most important thing for our club, and I look forward to reporting back to you on our coaching appointment.
Yours sincerely
John Witheriff
