Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop has failed to expand on reasons for the shock sacking of Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.
After twice addressing the playing group during a team camp at a Coogee hotel on Monday, Gallop was once again evasive about the circumstances which led to Stajcic’s dismissal on Saturday.
He said a new coach was expected to be announced in the next two weeks but failed to shed any light on the details of two reports into the team’s culture that led to his axing.
“There are confidentiality aspects to this and there are a range of reasons,” Gallop said.
A report by the Professional Footballers Association followed by one from Our Watch, an organisation that tackles abuse and violence against women, led to Stajcic’s downfall.
Gallop also denied the FFA board had failed to foresee problems emerging, defending the decision made just five months out from the World Cup.
“Further information was only available to us in the last week or so and these are cumulative things that are taken into account,” Gallop said.
Questions will now be asked of Gallop and the FFA and how they did not confront the problems sooner or attempt to resolve any cultural issues.
“We were in a tight time frame so the board took a decision on Friday night with a range of information in front of it to move quickly to put in place a new coach for the Cup of Nations,” Gallop said.
Arsenal women’s coach Joe Montemurro has been linked to the job and Gallop said they would have a head coach in place by next month’s Cup of Nations.
Sections of the side expressed their disappointment and anger to Gallop but he said there was no push for Stajcic to be reinstated.
“This was a decision based on a range of material, it’s not within the power of the players to appoint a coach,” Gallop said.
“Nor is it in the powers of the players to reinstate a coach.”