West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson might not be going anywhere despite the club’s nightmare run this season.
Glued to the bottom of the ladder with only one win through 14 games, the Eagles have been slammed from all corners in 2023.
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The already nightmare season reached horrific new lows over their past two encounters, losing by a combined 293 points.
It has seen the knives come out with Simpson’s future the hottest topic of debate among AFL circles.
But as many call for the Eagles to move immediately and instil changes from the top down, figures reveal why Simpson’s tenure won’t be ending anytime soon.
The Eagles may well be the richest club in the AFL, but even they can’t afford to make this type of move.
Channel 7 reporter Tom Browne highlighted the gargantuan amount it would cost the club if they were to axe their coach.
Simpson is contracted until 2025, meaning he would be entitled to an estimated $2.5 million if his time was cut short.
“He would be entitled to up to $2.5m on his contract, it’s a water tight contract that was negotiated post their premiership win … that’s an estimate,” Browne said on 7 News.
“What’s not an estimate is the tax for a breach over the soft cap of $500,000 is 200 per cent.
“This means the Eagles would owe the AFL $4.5m in luxury tax for a $2.5m payout, meaning West Coast’s liability, if they were to part company with Simpson, would be up to $7m plus the cost of a new coach.
“Not even West Coast, the richest club in the competition, would do that.”
Despite the heat coming for Simpson, it was another man who faced the axe with strength and conditioning manager Warren Kofoed departing.
Kofoed, joined the club in 2008, has been a key figure in the club’s off-field preparation through a period of success including the 2018 premiership.
News of his departure didn’t sit well with Eagles premiership player Will Schofield.
“What a remarkable time to release this. Any players finishing up at the end of the year? Or will that be done post season? I’m sorry, but he ain’t and shouldn’t be the fall guy for this. In my 10 years under Warren Kofoed, myself nor teammates were not ravaged by injuries,” Schofield wrote on Twitter.
Eagles GM of football Gavin Bell said: “Warren has been a key member of the department for the last 15 years but has decided it is the right time to pursue a fresh challenge.
“He has been an outstanding member of not only the football department, but the club more broadly and has built lifelong friendships.
“We wish Warren, Jasmine, Ivy and Rae our best wishes for the future.”
Simpson was in no mood for reporter’s question after the defeat having been asked if he was the right person for the job moving forward.
The underfire Eagles coach delivered a blunt response.
“Yes … What did you think I’d say?”
Simpson said the road ahead would continue to be challenging, but competitiveness was a non-negotiable.
That competitiveness was hard to find on Saturday by his own admission.
“Exposing the kids, leaders playing as well as they can, being competitive, they’ll have to be competitive at training at the moment, because at the moment in-game we’re nowhere near it,” he said.
