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Manawatu rugby coach resigns |
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Written by Site Admin
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Wednesday, 14 June 2006 |
Seven weeks from the start of the NPC premier division campaign, Manawatu rugby coach Charlie McAlister has stepped down.
Charlie McAlister is understood to have resigned yesterday afternoon, after a stressful week of meetings and many previous weeks in which he was clearly unsettled by the demands of the Manawatu Rugby Union board.
It is unprecedented for a Manawatu coach to depart in mid-season. Former All Black Kevin Eveleigh, who was reappointed for a second season in 1988, returned to South Africa before the season started.
In its biggest year since it left the first division in 1988, Manawatu now has to find a replacement coach. Assistant coach Bruce Hemara will take the team in the meantime.
McAlister attended his final team training on Tuesday, and the next day was suspended on full pay. Things had been simmering all week, and boiled over when players' concerns on a range of matters were conveyed to union management.
McAlister was appointed in November 2004 and reappointed on a one-year contract for this season after the Manawatu team finished sixth of nine teams in the NPC second division.
There was also the 109-6 loss to the British Lions.
McAlister wasn't available for comment last night. Chief executive Hadyn Smith was contacted, but said, "I can't comment on this issue."
He won't confirm anything until negotiations have finished.
McAlister had been under noticeable strain during the past two months, meeting the board's demands, running the team and recruiting players. Former All Black selector Peter Thorburn had been appointed a director and a coaching mentor, but that arrangement hadn't worked out.
All the contracted players brought into Manawatu were McAlister's, and all are apparently expected to stay.
When the players arrived at training on Wednesday, they found that Hemara was in charge of the session. Although many of them were surprised McAlister wasn't there, the leadership group had been informed beforehand.
Rugby Players' Association advocate Rob Nichol was invited to attend a meeting of representative players on Tuesday evening, as he did in the case of the new Tasman union and in Hawke's Bay on Wednesday.
The contracted players, in particular, were asked to discuss aspects of their employment ranging from contracts to management - not just coaches.
On Wednesday morning, a meeting of team management, coaches, Smith and union chairman Tony Murphy was told of players' concerns by Nichol. These included concerns over having a team doctor and physiotherapist, over where the team was heading, and over its ability to foot it in the new division.
That night, the players decided the politics was out of their control, and that they would get on with their training.
Senior players contacted last night didn't want to be named. They have said their focus is still the team, and that "everyone will stay with the team and this small glitch will only make us tighter".
If Manawatu goes to the Hurricanes franchise for help, former Canterbury coach Aussie McLean might be a candidate, as might its development officer, Jonathon Phillips, who worked with Manawatu on its Australian tour last year. There's also former Manawatu man Josef Schmidt, who is the backs coach with the Blues.
by PETER LAMPP. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 June 2006 )
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