Ex-Saints staffer rips 'disgraceful' Ratten axing

2 years ago 90

Former St Kilda coaching advisor Ernie Merrick has slammed the board's determination to marque Brett Ratten plead for his occupation aft sacking him arsenic "disgraceful" and "demeaning".

Merrick, the championship-winning erstwhile Melbourne Victory manager successful the A-League, precocious near the Saints to instrumentality up a relation with Football Australia, but was a portion of the Saints' shot reappraisal that yet led to Ratten's daze axing.

The 69-year-old was peculiarly captious of Saints president Andrew Bassat, claiming helium had already decided to portion ways with Ratten anterior to the completion of the review.

"It's 1 of the worst (sackings) I've seen," Merrick told SEN.

"I was portion of the reappraisal process the time earlier helium was sacked, and I deliberation the determination was already made.

"I was conscionable ticking a container to cheque connected my content of his performance. I lone spoke with 2 people, 1 was the president 1 was the CEO.

"The CEO I thought was precise just and honorable … but I'm acrophobic (with) Andrew Bassat I felt the determination was already made.

"I was truthful disappointed, immoderate statement was presented to maine for removing the manager I countered.

"They accidental it's a results-driven concern that we're successful … but it's truly not performance-related, it's usually idiosyncratic who makes a pugnacious telephone without the expertise oregon cognition down them I would say."

Ratten met with some Bassat and Saints CEO Simon Lethlean for seven hours to plead his case aft the determination had already been made to sack him.

Bassat and Lethlean claimed that the meetings had been implemented to springiness Ratten a accidental to amusement the Saints powerbrokers that they were making the incorrect decision, but the humiliating process near Merrick enraged.

"That's rather disgraceful really," Merrick said. "It's demeaning, it's not called for."

"Being successful coaching for a portion you triumph a game, you spell successful the alteration country and everybody's blessed and everyone's supporting you.

"But arsenic soon arsenic you suffer a mates of games, nary 1 wants to cognize you, you don't get the aforesaid characters supporting you and you tin archer that immoderate are acceptable to leap quickly."

Merrick helped Ratten and his unit with their preparation, matchday activities and post-match review, and was effusive successful his praise of the sacked coach.

"I observed a very, precise bully manager who has fantabulous narration skills," Merrick said.

"He led by gaining respect done his enactment and his property without installing fearfulness of nonaccomplishment oregon being an authoritarian.

"A mates of times I deliberation committee members see that arsenic being soft, but I see it modern coaching.

"The extremity results truly proved that, contempt what's being said – which amazes me, I deliberation his results person been connected track."

Ratten is wide expected to beryllium replaced by former St Kilda manager Ross Lyon, who has held aggregate meetings with the club's powerbrokers successful the past week.

The instrumentality of Lyon is particularly astonishing fixed the acrimonious circumstances surrounding his departure from the nine astatine the extremity of 2011 aft a wide palmy five-season stint.

"It's rather incredible. He wasn't precisely a fan-favourite erstwhile helium near the nine to spell to the Fremantle Dockers. It's a singular comeback, it truly is," Nine's Tony Jones told Today of Lyon's imaginable return.

"It's not beyond precedent. David Parkin did it astatine Carlton, Tony Jewell astatine Richmond, Bob Rose came backmost astatine Collingwood.

"In this time and property it's a small unusual, but Ross Lyon took the nine to 3 expansive finals, and this is simply a nine that's lone won 1 premiership. So there's unfinished concern there.

"I deliberation it's beauteous exciting, but not each St Kilda supporters hold with that."

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