Matthew Knights sacked

[Scraggers]

Caroline Wilson
August 29, 2010 - 3:29PM


Essendon coach Matthew Knights has been sacked.

The coach of the past three years was told shortly after 1pm today that his time at the club was finished in a meeting with Bombers chairman David Evans.

Knights and his manager Daniel Richardson met Evans earlier this afternoon and it is understood the decision came after an 8am board meeting.

Essendon now faces a two-year payout which could reach $800,000.


Full Story

[The Coon Dog]

To paraphrase Mike Sheahan when referring to Terry Wallace, he was a dead man walking.

[bornadog]

The worst coach since Rhode?

[LostDoggy]

Did he coach the dogs?

[angelopetraglia]

They didn't waste any time. 8am board meeting they day after the last game.

At least that takes away all the speculation and games.

[GVGjr]

Someone from the board should go as well. They extended his contract and a year later it's all gone pear shaped. Classic case of the board appointing someone because he told them what they wanted to hear not what they needed to hear.

[Flamethrower]

Someone from the board should go as well. They extended his contract and a year later it's all gone pear shaped. Classic case of the board appointing someone because he told them what they wanted to hear not what they needed to hear.

Peter Jackson is gone leaving the current board with a $800,000 mess.

We are becoming the coach killers. Knights and Wallace coach their last game against us, while Choco Williams jumped ship the week before playing us.

[The Pie Man]

Someone from the board should go as well. They extended his contract and a year later it's all gone pear shaped. Classic case of the board appointing someone because he told them what they wanted to hear not what they needed to hear.

Playing finals seriously flattered them last year

Knights was awful at selling his message.....everyone is critical of their defence - I've never once heard Knights say something like 'young emerging defenders need to learn to play one on one on the best forwards, and once they do, we'll reap the benefits' which could've bought him some time developing the list.

How they went for him over Hardwick is astounding - all because Hardwick was a little more realistic on where the list was at - BS can only take you so far I suppose

[LostDoggy]

Hopefully they replace him with someone equally as crap. I do enjoy watching Essendon struggle.

[Remi Moses]

One thing about those Bomber fans they stick through thick and thick!!
A couple of things went against Knights
1)No game plan to stop other sides getting a run on
2)He's inadequate treatment of Lucas and Lloyd
3)He's continual chopping and changing every week!

[ratsmac]

One thing about those Bomber fans they stick through thick and thick!!
A couple of things went against Knights
1)No game plan to stop other sides getting a run on
2)He's inadequate treatment of Lucas and Lloyd
3)He's continual chopping and changing every week!

4)Shit coach

[Remi Moses]

4)Shit coach

5)He comes from Richmond who have done F*** all for 30 years!

[Bulldog Revolution]

Classic case of the board appointing someone because he told them what they wanted to hear not what they needed to hear.

That said, Knights IMO took very few short term decisions and I thought he did the right thing in not bowing to the pressures for Lloyd and Lucas.

Most of his decisions were to blood kids and provide opportunities to kids. The only one glaring, and ridiculous decision was to trade for Mark Williams.

However, I dont think he is a good coach, and I would have been very disappointed had a club I supported appointed him Senior Coach.

[Go_Dogs]

How they went for him over Hardwick is astounding - all because Hardwick was a little more realistic on where the list was at - BS can only take you so far I suppose

Doesn't paint too good a picture of the Essendon board does it?

Matthew Knights says our current list is good enough to play finals and win a flag in 3-5 years, whereas Hardwick doesn't, so therefore we'll go with Knights because it is obvious our list is in fact good enough.

[LostDoggy]

Hopefully they replace him with someone equally as crap. I do enjoy watching Essendon struggle.

Hear! Hear!

Typical of the arrogant bastards. As others have said they were consumed by Knights' appealing to their egos and picked him ahead of Hardwick who gave them a realistic assessment.

All the news in Adelaide is that Mark Williams is past the post - they offered him heaps in 2007. I sure hope this is the case given it would guarantee them another three years in Nowheresville.

Their other hopeful is James Hird - Tim Watson in the making.