Keen to see the media's response tonight. They started a campaign to sack him before a ball was kicked this season. Phil Rothfield will be jumping out of his skin to remind us all that Shane Flanagan is available. His campaign against Maguire on NRL360 has been disgusting. His allegiance to Shane Flanagan is clear, but he is also acting as the mouthpiece of some pretty spineless board members who should have video called in to the show last night instead of using Phil as their errand boy.
I have enormous respect for Madge, am disappointed by how the club has treated him, am sad to see him go and don't think we should have parted ways with him. Players get spoken to in plain english - it is quite clear what is expected of them, and it is the same at every club and every elite junior level. We have a playing group with a low footballing IQ, a lack of experience when it comes to success and no natural leaders bar Hastings who has only been with us for 6 months. That is the only reason why we lose - we objectively have the worst team in first grade in terms of IQ, ability, fitness and leadership. Hopefully Madge gets the Warriors job and takes them in to the 8.
Cameron Ciraldo does not have the experience to get results with our playing roster in its current state and may not have the mettle to tell some of our more difficult players (personalities) that they are not first grade quality footballers. This is a job for a man who has got no problem putting a player, club official or board member in their place, be it in or out of the club as they so determine.
