West Coast coach Adam Simpson will keep his job in a remarkable twist to his club’s two years of on-field turmoil and a win for the voice of fans and players.
The club’s board made the call to not sack their premiership coach 48 hours after being consigned to a second wooden spoon, amid strong speculation Simpson would lose his job.
The “unanimous” call was made as board members met at Mineral Resources Park on Monday.
Mounting fan support in the final weeks of the season marked a significant change in the fight for Simpson to continue into an 11th year at the Eagles, even in the face of their biggest ever western derby defeat to Fremantle.
After that match he looked almost certain to be sacked.
It’s a win not only for passionate fans, but for senior players too, who used media opportunities in the twilight of the season to give the embattled mentor their backing.
And perhaps the biggest show of support came in a shock second win of the season, an upset over the Western Bulldogs in the penultimate round.
Simpson was desperate to divert attention away from his predicament to the farewell for legends Nic Naitanui, Luke Shuey and Shannon Hurn, but fans flocked to training bearing signs to make a point for him to stay and cheered every time he came near.
Homemade placards reading “I love Simmo” and “say yes to Simmo” were held proudly at the club’s final open training session of the year.
It was the same on Saturday night, the Optus Stadium crowd roaring when the man who led them to the 2018 premiership featured on the big screen.
“At the meeting today the board unanimously agreed that Adam will remain as senior coach,” chairman Paul Fitzpatrick said.
“No one knows our playing list better than Adam and he has already steered us through the first phase of the rebuild. We are confident he can take us forward and take us where we aspire to be.
“Adam is central to our development plans to assist the club’s rise up the ladder.”
A petition launched after the Western Bulldogs victory for Simpson to stay, which creator Stephen O’Donoghue had planned to present to the board, had more than 5000 signatories at the time the club released its statement on Monday night.
O’Donoghue said it was important members had a voice in club decisions.
“The overwhelming majority from the feedback I’m getting is that people want him and I think the board needs to listen,” he said.
“We do have a voice. We back the club financially and so I think we ought to at least be heard.”
Fans met the news with another outpouring of love for Simpson
“Simmo has put his heart and soul into this club. He built a winning culture and delivered a flag,” supporter Jordan Pritchard said on Facebook.
“He deserved to be the one to guide is back on course and get us back to the top.”
Other supporters were pleased with the board moving quickly.
Best news and so happy the Eagles didn’t drag out the decision like so many other clubs have done,” Debra McCulloch posted.
Prospective future captain Liam Duggan was the most recent of the club’s senior players to back Simpson, pleading for the club to make a swift call after the final game of the season.
Those calls were answered on Monday.
“With all of that stuff I think the sooner the better and we can then start to plan for next year as well,” Duggan told The West Australian.
“We’ve been right behind Simmo all year and we haven’t got the results we would’ve liked but the boys love him and are still playing for him.
“For his sake especially I think the quicker the decision is made the better.”
Tim Kelly and Jeremy McGovern also wanted the former North Melbourne champion to remain their coach, Kelly telling The West the Bulldogs win was for Simpson.
I’ve got a great relationship with Simmo and at this point, I can’t really see anyone else doing it,” he said.
“We’ve got Simmo’s back, he’s got our back and today definitely felt like it was a bit about him and each other.”
The board’s decision came while players still enjoyed the end of their nightmare season, partying at Ocean Beach Hotel on Sunday night.
It also comes before the club holds exit interviews with its players, meaning Simpson will remain at the heart of its decision making for the future — something he called for in recent weeks.
“Our season came to an end on Saturday night and we finished at the foot of the premiership table,” Fitzpatrick said in the club’s statement.
“That does not sit well with anyone at the club and we are all aware that there is much work to be done to return as a force in the competition.
“Some of the work that is required to improve has already started and it will continue in the off-season and through the pre-season. We know we need to be better across all aspects in the football program.”