West Coast Eagles board stay silent on Adam Simpson’s future as embattled coach thrust back into spotlight

Adam Simpson’s 10-year tenure as West Coast Eagles coach is in jeopardy, with not one board member publicly backing him on Thursday. Saturday’s 101-point derby defeat might be the defining moment as the West Coast board faces arguably its toughest decision. Calls for a circuit-breaker have been reported by The West Australian during the horror stretch that has netted just four wins from 47 games, with calls for CEO Trevor Nisbett, Simpson or both to exit. The West Australian contacted every board member on Thursday asking if they supported Simpson’s retention as coach and were either met with no response or no comment. It is seen as an ominous sign for Simpson. The West first reported divisions on the board in May, but chair Paul Fitzpatrick has claimed deputy Elizabeth Gaines, Nisbett, Justin Langer, Ben Wyatt, Terry Bowen, Nicole Moody and Rowan Jones remain united. It is understood a decision and announcement is more unlikely than likely during the season, which ends on Saturday week against Adelaide at Optus Stadium. That belief has been backed by Fitzpatrick. The West has led the calls for change, but it was reignited on Wednesday night when former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire reported West Coast’s board was contemplating axing Simpson. McGuire also said Nisbett would not seek a contract extension beyond next season but would remain in the role until a replacement was found and appointed. Their unwanted record-breaking derby loss after two promising performances was their fifth triple-figure defeat this season and biggest ever loss in a western derby. McGuire, in his role as Footy Classified host, said the string of results could spell the end of the coach who has been at the helm of the Eagles since 2014. “I can tell you that the board is contemplating whether to sack Adam Simpson,” McGuire said. “Things seemed to be going along all right after the Essendon game, they thought everything was hanging together but the total humiliation of what happened on the weekend against the Fremantle Dockers has now got this before the board. “And Adam Simpson knows this because he’s actually said ‘I want to know sooner rather than later’.” Eagles premiership coach Simpson has been stoic in his desire to see out his contract, which has another two years to run, but his mood shifted after the derby loss when he was asked if it was a tipping point in his 10-year tenure. Simpson responded: “I can’t control that. So what will be will be, but we definitely took a step backwards today.” Simpson has a water-tight contract at West Coast worth about $800,000 a season that does not expire until the end of 2025. Sacking Simpson could cost the club an estimated $6m because of the luxury tax they’d have to pay if they went over the soft cap because of the payout. Simpson said he had not had any discussions with the board but had spoken to a few people at the club to get some direction. “It is that time of year when you are pretty deep in recruiting, recruiting staff, recruiting players, list management, trade period — all those things so getting some clarity about what it looks like in the future and making sure you’re still a part of that, that is important so that will come in the next week or so,” Simpson told 6PR. “I haven’t asked the board, but I have spoken to a few people at the club to get some direction. I’m not stamping my feet, it’s more when we do all this future planning, obviously, you want to be there when you’re recruiting people and employing staff. “I think we’ve planned something at the end of the season, so getting a bit of clarity around that would be nice but at the same time I fully respect the board and they’ve always been pretty stoic and run by an agenda that they set, I respect that. “We’ll find out in due course and we’ll get some clarity as we go.” Simpson said he didn’t believe the derby defeat caused a change in the mindset around his future. “I signed a contract extension probably two years ago with the intent to work through a rebuild and I’m really clear about that and I’m up for it,” Simpson said. “That’s all part of the plan and I knew there were going to be some difficult times and this year’s been difficult and on the weekend was a bad performance. “I don’t think one game in isolation is a pivot to make a change, but if the club and the board did decide that it is time to do that, then I need to respect it.” As late as last week, Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett - who is also on the board - backed the 2018 premiership coach to continue beyond this season. “It’s been a really difficult year for Adam as well,” Nisbett told SEN. “I mean, we’ve introduced so many teenagers into our playing group along with a couple of 20-year-olds and they’re starting to show glimpses of form on a consistent basis. “Some of our senior players are playing reasonably good footy, albeit, you know, we’ve still only won the two games and that’s inadequate for what we’re after. “But having said that it has been a really difficult set of circumstances that Adam’s been working under for two seasons with so many injuries and obviously we have to concentrate on that, but we have to concentrate on getting the team right. “With a couple of retirements, it means that other people will have to step up into greater leadership roles. “We’re really looking forward to that because we think people will develop once that happens.” This season alone the Eagles have been belted by 100 points or more on five occasions, including a 171-point smashing at the hands of Sydney - the biggest in the club’s history. The team also lost 17 consecutive games - another unwanted club record - from round two to 19 before holding on to beat fellow battlers North Melbourne by five points.