The NZ Sunday Star Times sports writer, Greg Ford, has come out with some startling revelations about coach John Mitchell and the Western Force Super 14 franchise which, if true, indicate that there is an intense struggle between the coach and the majority of the players and staff over control of the club.
The implication in Ford’s account is that Mitchell is hanging onto his job, pending a review of his methods by a retired judge, mainly because his manager, the redoubtable John Fordham, has threatened legal action if his power of the team is not restored. And because paying Mitchell out of his contract will cost the cash-strapped franchise over $1 million.
Ford also claims that while Mitchell remains the coach of the Western Force ‘technically,’ the training of the team has been done by the assistant coach, John Mulvihill.
In his Sun-Herald rugby column this week, the former Queensland and Australian coach John Connolly, says that 30 out of the 36 and 10 of the coaching staff have signed a petition of complaint about Mitchell.
Connolly makes the point that Mitchell is in a ‘tough place’ because it’s easier to sack one coach than most of your players and coaching staff.
He might have noted that when the management of the ACT Brumbies were faced with a much smaller revolt by a group of senior players against their successful coach David Nucifora, it was Nucifora who was sacked.
The gist of Connolly’s article is that “how a coach handles the pressure is the key to how he survives.’ The implication in the article is that Mitchell is very poor at handling pressure. Connolly instances the fact that Mitchell ‘left the All Blacks under a cloud because of the way he supposedly handled issues.”
This Connolly attack comes a week after a similar sort of attack against Mitchell was made by Brendan Cannon.
Cannon’s argument was that it is alarming for the future success of a club when the majority of its players and coaching staff are in rebellion against their coach.
Cannon was a founding member of the Western Force, the first player recruited by Mitchell. He’s been the heart and soul of the club, even after he was forced to retire with neck injuries.
Journalists are inveterate conspiracy theorists, of course, but there seems to be something of a whiff of a takeover attempt in all the criticisms made against Mitchell.
And why is this so?
In my opinion, certain parties are interested in taking over Mitchell’s job if the review forces the board of the Western Force into sacking him.
This brings us back to Greg Ford’s article which was entitled, “The mystery of John Mitchell.”
Ford solves the mystery in a way by explaining that Mitchell appears to be a Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde character. He can be “the smiling, charming, successful, smart, athletic family man – or, the devious, scheming, ruthless, ticking time bomb.”
It’s now generally forgotten that Mitchell won the Western Force coaching job against an ARU directive by the then chief executive Gary Flowers that the job had to go to an Australian.
Fordham, who is also the manager of Ricky Stuart, another coach who has a tempestuous relationship with the media and sometimes with some of his players, lobbied brilliantly for his client, Mitchell.
The rugby media was subjected to a charm offensive on the part of Fordham and Mitchell which turned the tide in the favour of the New Zealander.
Here, I’ll make a confession.
During the lead-up to the appointment of Mitchell as the coach of the Western Force, I’d been critical of the attempt to give-up on the policy of appointing non-Australians to a Super 14 coaching job. My argument was that, first, there were plenty of competent Australian coaches who could do the job, and, second, that Mitchell was not so much better than any of the good Australian candidates that he deserved the special treatment a Robbie Deans might be given.
Thirdly, Australian rugby did not want to get into the same position as European rugby of giving away all the top coaching jobs to outsiders and, thereby, reducing the chances of a national coaching the national side.
Fordham must have read these criticisms.
He arranged for me to have a chat with Mitchell before he went across to Perth. I found him to be a very pleasant, intense, knowledgeable and family-oriented man. On the occasions I’ve contacted him about rugby matters, say what players and coaches look out for with certain referees, he’s been helpful and intelligent.
A perfect Dr Jeckyll.
But Ford reports that at North Harbour last season, when the Force were struggling against the Auckland Blues, the Force’s coach’s box was near the media benches and hard-nosed reporters were startled to hear that “the air was blue with profanities.”
The Force is not with John Mitchell, it appears, in more ways than one.
Guy Smiley
Guest
Remy, its complicated but the $25m was withdrawn when a) it was realised that the 2006 Force membership was too large for such a relatively small stadium and b) a new all purpose stadium was on the cards. The money then was funnelled towards the larger project and was effectively off the table but at that point everyone was happy. Then the Labour Govt took an interminable amount of time to research the new stadium and allowed the major stakeholder, the WA Football Commission to childishly drag its heels because it didn't want to share. There was no choice at this juncture - they had to go along with the WAFC and take Perth Glory with them, all the influence lay with football. To strike out on their own would have been simply suicidal. This delay was long enough the see the plans announced, a start date proposed, and the Govt to be elected out of office in favour of a fiscally conservative mob who immediately slashed it. It will now never be built. If the Force do not move to the relative squalor of Members Equity they will not survive. I would rather have 17,000 in a full house than 21,000 in a half-empty venue. Yes financially its tougher but the club will not survive any other way. Munster's Thomond Park in Limerick (until last year) was a dump of a ground but the most atmospheric, most intimidating ground in Europe and virtually impossible to win at if you were the visiting team - most members don't care about bells and whistles they just to see their team (literally!) prosper and follow that journey. The good stuff will follow if the basics are laid in place. Westy - you are right about union being a touch judgmental, sometimes we are a little too smug and self-satisfied and we need to be mindful of that, all jokes aside there's room for everyone at the table The future of the Fore hangs on a knife edge and I think the picture will be much clearer in a couple of years. The fundamentals are good but it's the dumb mistakes that keep getting repeated. All signs point to management.
Exile
Guest
Spiro, I appreciate the response, I must admit I did not expect one. I am heartened to hear of your support of a Western Australian Super 14 Franchise, tho the cynic in me would be sure if I did a search I would not find an article attributed to you stating so. Fans of the Western Force are becoming sick and tired. We are sick and tired of continuing to read stories of gloom and doom attributed to writers such as your self stating gleefully the latest rumbling heard out the back door of RugbyWA HQ but then taking great pleasure in remind their readers of every single indiscretion attributed to the Western Force since October 2005. The fans of the Western Force are well aware of each and every one of their teams short comings. We discuss it, and get over it. If the fans can get over it, why cant you? Why cant your readers? Hell your #1fan Remy even takes time from kissing your butt to remind you of the indiscretions you missed. Spiro this weekend the Western Force take on the Crusaders in a practice match in Perth. I would hope that you take notice of this match and hope that the Perth based print media provides a report of this match. I believe that at this match you will see a response to the John Mitchell issue by the Western Force fans. I believe that Members Equity Stadium in Perth will have close to a full house. Sure MES only holds 18 thousand, but lets not lose sight of the fact that this is a practice match. That for the last 6 months all we have heard is that Matt Giteau is leaving - and this new John Mitchell drama. The Sea of Blue will be loud and proud and showing the love that we feel for our Western Force. Yes Remy it is a cult and I have the tattoo to prove it.
Remy
Guest
Guy and Westy Good comments and I agree with your points on the poor behaviour of the Force off field. I also believe Force Management have continually displayed a lack of transparency and honesty. They acted very poorly in the debacle over third party dodgy deals and dont seem to have learnt much since then. This sort of behaviour breeds a culture within a group and it really needs to change. Guy, in relation to the stadium, Members Equity is quite appalling as a venue. My main concern is that the stadiums capacity is only around 17,000 and this includes thousands of standing room seats. Surely this is going to severly reduce the Force's ability to make money from memberships, hospitality and match day revenue? It has to. In relation to the governments pledge to spend $25m on the development of Members Equity, I recall the government withdrew this funding only after the Force decided they didnt want to go M/Equity and decided to support the AFL in the development of Subiaco Oval. A massive mistake I think - their actions lost the funding and now they want it back? Perhaps the Force management should have considered this when deciding which bed to lie in at the time.... As for players, I doubt Giteau will stay after this year.. He's been very calculated in his language since his return. He was duped in to signing for the Force and wont forget that. The risk is, of course, that a group of other players follow him and return home.
Westy
Guest
Exile and Guy My posts are not aimed at Western Force bashing. They are to merely highlight that these things happen in professional sports clubs.Nor do I wish to excuse or overlook such incidents.We both agree the Quokka affair was a low light. The other incidents are I am afraid part and parcel of male professional sporting clubs across codes. Some clubs manage these incidents better than others. The point is rugby is no worse or better.It is just some in rugby see things with blinkers on . I continue my crusade that this does impact on our perception of and by others. We are as a code very judgemental of others. I do warn however that this poor period of behaviour/management will impact on the Force's ability to attract or maintain quality players in the medium term
Guy Smiley
Guest
Lets clarify one thing about the membership issue - it is only declining because of the stadium issue. Fans will not tolerate Subiaco Oval for rugby - despite the fact that Members Equity Stadium is hardly world class it is infinitely better than the current home. If the Force cannot relocate there within the next 2 seasons I would suggest their future is in grave doubt. It was an ARU condition that they would be playing at a rectangular ground a few seasons into their franchise - this was also contingent on $25m pledge by the WA State Govt for stadium upgrades which was then reneged upon, leaving the Force up the creek. I would say upwards of 80% of members who have not re-signed have done so for stadium issues, nothing else. Regarding the issue of the coach swearing during the Blues game at North Harbour, his team were playing poorly in the first half and were lucky to still be in it. Following a stern half time talk, which the Kiwi ground reporter picked up on, they went on to win the game and completely dominate the second half, claiming their first win on NZ soil. Surely rugby is not that entrenched in the upper classes for a blast of profanities to upset the natives. The quokka incident was disgraceful and cannot be condoned or defended so I won't even bother trying. The Sare/Henjak punch up was simply Henjak dragging his immaturity and ego to the party and mixing it with alcohol. Good riddance. With Mitchell himself there must be some credence to the rumours flying around there are simply too many of them but time will tell - one thing for sure the board and management at the club had better get their act together as even if everything was untrue they have handled it very badly.
Remy
Guest
Well put, Spiro. I've noticed that you and other writers, particularly those that write for the Herald, have hammered the Waratahs at times over the years. And at times there's been good reason for that. They have a massive pool of talent to draw from. Many seem to be blinded by the fact that John Mitchell was an Allblacks coach and there seems to be a view amongst a few that if you've coached this team you must be good and deserve a job anyway. Not so. I'll agree that the Allblacks performed well in 2002 and 2003 under Mitchell but this was a time when their squad was exceptionally powerful and the Sprinboks and most of Europe were moving sideways. Mitchell was totally outcoached by Eddie Jones in the RWC 2003 semi final and all credit to Jones for masterminding this win. Personally I believe this exposed a massive weakness in Mitchells ability to develop tactics and plans. His attitude post this world cup was not of a professional standard either. Mitchell always showed an exceptional liking for the erractic Carlos Spencer. Spencer was Mitchell's trump card in the powerful All blacks team. However, the lack of a Plan B was very obvious to the rugby purist in that now famous semi. Mitchell was faced with some radical and inventive tactics from the Wallabies and almost in the fine tradition of English rugby, there appeared little diversion from the established formulae. Perhaps Mitchell's time in the UK had had an influence at the time? A coach of a team facing an inquiry in the lead up to a season is something I've never seen in Australian sporting history. But then again the Force seem to like the odd bit of controversy and scandal. I'm fascinated by why this is occuring, what process is to be followed and what the outcome could be. Please keep up the good work and enligthen the converted.
Spiro Zavos
Expert
Exile, there was a saying in the days of the Wild West: 'Do not shoot the piano player, he is doing his best.' This was a play on the old Chinese adage: 'Don't shoot the messenger.' The point about my article was not to attack the state of rugby in West Australia. I've always been supportive of putting a Super 14 franchise there as bridging the gap, as it were, between Australia and South Africa. It also allows from time to time to have wall-to-wall Super 14 rugby from 5.30pm (Sydney time) with a match in NZ, through to matches on the eastern seaboard, Perth and then South Africa. There's a strong rugby culture in Perth with the game being played there for over 100 years. This and the ex-pat British, NZ and South Africans has enabled the Western Force to have a successful launching. But this success has mainly been off the field. On the field the Western Force has not had the initial success that Rod Macqueen created for the ACT Brumbies. And this was the context in which I pointed out that John Mitchell has not been a successful Super Rugby coach, either with the Chiefs or now with the Western Force. I was careful to point out where the information I used was coming from as the source of at least one of the articles quoted by me could provide an interesting insight into what the controversy over Mitchell is really about. Finally, the fact that I write for The Roar has nothing to do with writing for the SMH. I have been extremely critical of the NSWRU over the years, even though the Waratahs are sponsored by the SMH. This sponsorship is nothing to do with me and there has never been a suggestion by anyone that criticism of the NSWRU or the Waratahs (ask Ewen McKenzie if he has been happy with some of my columns about his coaching) needs to be curtailed because of the linkage. Getting back to the Western Force, it is a valid story for a journalist to comment on and to try to work out what is happening when most of a Super 14 team and its officials make an official complaint/complaints about the head coach.
sheek
Guest
If the Force are facing falling membership & support, that's precisely why the ARU gave the 4th Super license to WA & not Victoria. The ARU knew, whether the team was based in either of Perth or Melbourne, the crunch would come when the honeymoon period evaporated. WA is better positioned I believe, to survive the drought that would always come, compared to Victoria. As for Mitchell, I find this sad. I certainly wished him well, & thought he would be good for Australian rugby. I can't say the same for his manager Fordham, who has shown in the past a total lack of empathy for anything other than his clients & himself. Fordham would see WA go belly-up rather than do any good for the majority.
Harry
Guest
Thanks for the response Spiro and what a shame there isn't more professional and quality journalists like yourself that are able to see the motives, media contact and words of many of these agents as being first and foremost in their client's or more pertinently their own commercial interests, with the interests of the wider game a long way second. The Johns saga was a classic example of this, and I felt it was a disgrace the way the media (yourself excluded) portrayed Miller and the ARU's decision at the time. Being an occasional visitor to Perth I endorse Exile's spirited defense of the strength of support and following for the Force and rugby generally in the West. The base/grass roots is strong and growing and I think the ARU made the right move. This Mitchell saga is beginning to look pretty nasty and it will be interesting to see how the Force go on the field this year. I suspect they will struggle to finish in the top half, mainly because they lack depth and authority in the front row. Don't forget though they played some really excellent rugby last year, inlcuding beating Auckland away and matching the Crusaders.
Remy
Guest
Exile You make some interesting points here, but perhaps the following may add some balance to your views. From what I've read, the Force started with a strong membership base and that is dwindling very quickly. In 2006 the Force had around 21,000 members and it looks like they'll end up with around 12,000 (at best) for this year. If the average price of a membership is $300 (actually probably a lot more) then thats a loss of revenue of $2,700,000....... Whilst some departing members 'may' go to the odd game, thats a massive loss of income and totally unsustainable and I would suggest the reason why the force board have decided to cut costs by moving to that suburban park, Members Equity. But of course this raises another point. Members Equity is one of the worst sporting grounds I have ever seen. It has very little seating and is basically a 1950's afl ground with a few plastic seats tacked on to provide some seating. This ground will be, by far, the worst in australian s 14 history. I have been to Subiaco Oval and the corporate boxes and suites are great for any sport. These dont exist at Members Equity. Again, if this isnt addressed, I imagine thats another massive loss of income to the force. There are thousands of corporate suite and box seats at subiaco. How many exist at M /Equity? 200? The 8,000 odd signatures you talk about is quite a small and trivial number, frankly.... I've seen sports boom and bust in Perth before. The Glory are the best example of late and I'm concerned the Force are headed down the same path - very quickly. The Glory once had crowds of 18,000 at m / Equity and they'd be lucky to get a crowd of 8,000 these days. In relation to the Forces' loyal band of supporters, every club, organisation and cult has them. These groups will flourish and survive as long as they're not challenged to be better and they have enough followers to promote the cause. But there are plenty of objective people out there who have cancelled their memberships because of the poor off field behaviour of the force and their management. But those too close to the 'cause' simply cant see this. I'd give Spiro and the east coast writers a break. They have every right to call it as they see it. I'm a proud West Coaster, but have been very frustrated with how the Force have managed their evolution over the last few years. They could have done things so much better and endeared themselves to so many more...
Exile
Guest
Westy - allow me to respond. Yes the Western Force paid membership has dropped by 20% and yet, we still have more members then any other Australian Team in the Super14. I would like to say that the Western Force has more paid up members then all Super14 Franchises, but I cant say for certain. Yes the Western Force got fined and reprimanded for breaches. Exactly how long will this continue to be used against the Western Force? 2 Players failed their own imposed alcohol restrictions - the limit by the way is 0.01% The act of cruelty that you refer to was to pick up and then put down the Quokka - yes this is against the law, and a fine was paid. And yes Matt Henjack punched Haig Sare in the jaw. In all these incidents the fans of the Western Force have not wavered, nor have we quit. The Fans of the Western Force continue to attend an oval that is so unsuitable to watch Live Rugby but they continue to support their team. They have become the Sea of Blue that is quickly becoming world famous. In all the incidents and the poor venue to watch Live Rugby - the crowds continue to average greater then 20,000 per match. The Fans of the Western Force believe that their team is worthy of a rectangular stadium that 8,832 that were enrolled to vote in Western Australia signed a petition to demand a rectangular stadium, not just for the Western Force, but for the Perth Glory and the WA Reds Rugby League side as well. The East Coast press can continue to write all of the bad news stories they like, but the Sea of Blue is strong. Tho its very difficult to stomach or take that criticism seriously from writers of The Roar or Rugby Heaven when the employer of these writers is a Sponsor of the Waratahs. Some would call that a conflict of interest.
Westy
Guest
Tha same article by Conolly also highlighted the membership of the Force has dropped by 20%. and basically have a home oval not suitable for rugby. The Force have been finrd and reprimanded for breaches of ARU regulations , have players a little under the weather at training and official functioncs , perform acts of cruelty on quokkas and have players who king hit a team mate and a coach on restricted duties under investigation by a judge. If they could have got Ben Cousins or Greg Bird it would have been perfect. There are some sporting clubs who have been worse but it is typical of a relatively new and as yet unsuccessful franchise.
Even looser
Guest
What the??? "But Ford reports that at North Harbour last season, when the Force were struggling against the Auckland Blues, the Force’s coach’s box was near the media benches and hard-nosed reporters were startled to hear that “the air was blue with profanities.” A coach that uses bad language in the coach's box when his team keeps on stuffing up. What a complete bastard!
Exile
Guest
Spiro, Congratulations on putting together 3 other writers articles and then claiming the story as your own. Disappointing to say the least, but I guess at the end of the day you are still an employee of a proud sponsor of the Waratahs. Its a shame to have brought across your blue tinted goggles to the allegedly independent ROAR. One Question I hope you could answer for me - if RugbyWA declared an operating profit of a million dollars and the Waratahs had to go cap in hand to the ARU for a handout, could you please define the term cash strapped? Whilst my goggles are a shade of blue, I guess mine are a darker shade then yours.
Who Needs Melon
Guest
Geez who'd be a coach eh? It's a bloody tough job. You seem to need an obsessive personality but to also avoid some of the character traits that often accompany this personality type - arrogance, aloofness, intransigence. To be a top, TOP player I think you need to be of the same mould. Putting more than one of such types in a room together can spell trouble. I think, like siblings, one is assumed to be the more responsible (the senior, the coach) and cops the blame when there's fireworks. I've never been a top player - just a high school plodder - but I've played for some FANTASTIC coaches - guys you'd do anything for. How they inspire such devotion is hard to put your finger on. Then again maybe I'm more easily able to get on with such coaches because I'm not such an obsessive personality. I suppose the point of all my rambling is that we sometimes need to forgive people for not being TOTAL machines and having normal human failings, making mistakes, etc. So the guy sometimes flies off the handle, swears and storms out. There's the implications in these articles that he likes a drink. So what? Do we really expect all of our sportspersons to be pure as driven snow?
Spiro Zavos
Expert
You are right Harry. In fact after my opposition to Andrew Johns being signed on by the ARU (in my opinion he was too injury prone and also an icon of RL should not defect late in his career to another rugby code, in the same way that the Pope can't convert to Islam) John Fordham sent me a letter stating that Johns on one leg was better than the RU talent on two legs. The letter was marked 'private and confidential.' I published the letter in the SMH. When Fordham objected, I told him it may have been 'private and confidential' as far as he was concerned, but it wasn't as far as I was concerned. As he'd accused me in the letter of being a lackey of the ARU, I reckoned that he was trying to put pressure on me and the rugby public should know what his tactics were in protecting the interests of his clients. When he offered me a chat with John Mitchell, after he had been appointed the coach of the Western Force (an appointment I'd also opposed on the grounds that Super 14 jobs should go to Australians and that his record wasn't that great either), I took it up. As I say, we had an interesting conversation. Mitchell promised to be accessible to people like myself (unlike his behaviour with the All Blacks), and by and large he was. He is clearly in deep trouble at the Western Force and the protestations of loyalty from some of the players don't cut much ice. But whether he will be sacked remains an issue that will be resolved when the review comes out.
Harry
Guest
Spiro I would have thought rugby journalists would have been very wary of John Fordham after the way he orchestrated a campaign against Jeff Miller about the ARU's -correct - decision not to sign Fordham client Joey Johns to a lucrative long term rugby contract, when it was fairly obvious that Joey was on his last legs - champion player though he undoubtedly was. As to the Force and Mitchell, whatever happens its bad news for Australian rugby - the Brumbies were allowed to sink into mediocrity after giving "player power" full reign and installing an ineffecutal coach. From reading your article I presume your saying Cannon is leading the push?
Remy
Guest
Spiro Nice article. I enjoyed reading it. Something clearly is going wrong within the Western Force. Actually, to be more precise, there seems to have been a lot going wrong within the Western Force for a number of years now. And we really need to ask, why? How could this 'group' start with a membership base of 20,000 odd people and a sound team, only to see it slip in to the depths of turmoil. And if you think a halving of that membership, sacked players, players fighting, a crooked sponsor and a CEO that admits to breaking rules isnt turmoil, then what is it? Clearly something is wrong out West and something needs to be done to steer this broken ship back on course. But back to the matter at point. I've read and watched with amusement the way John Mitchell has been treated. And this is not meant in any way to defend this individual as I too believe he has much to answer for and probably needs to fall on his sword. What amuses me the most is the fact that the vast majority of Force players, and many administrators, signed a petition that, apparently, doesnt support Mitchell remaining in Perth but, then, when publicly quizzed, have jumped to his support. I must say the bizzare comments made by Nathan Sharpe and a few other players in support of Mitchell is quite amusing. Are they trying to say that the 'do support him (genuinely) and didnt sign the petition'. Or are the following the long established protocol of media management at the force of constant and sustained contradiction at all times? Please guys, try some honesty. The spin has spun out and its plain to see communication doesnt work well out West. Whilst the terms of the petition arent publicly known (officially) one can only draw an assumption that such drastic action wasnt an act of support for Mitchell. And if most players signed this, how can they now jump up and declare a pledge of some form of alliegence? Its time for the Force to show some leadership and honesty and get on with things and perform - on and off the field.. Will someone please put their hand up to volunteer first?
Wally James
Roar Guru
And on another issue, I applaud your thoughts on state coaches coming from the ranks of Australians. As a youth I recall vividly the passion with which Queensland played under Templeton, Connolly, McBain, Slack and Miller and the similar passion with which Queenslanders supported them. Should this not stretch to the Australian team? There is little doubt that Robbie Deans is a hardworking decent man with a vast store of rugby strategy, law and lore. But to be honest, when he was appointed, I felt just a bit betrayed. I wanted an Australian team coached by an Australian who has passion for Australia. I don't doubt for an instant that Deans has Australia's interests at heart all the time. But he wore a black jersey not a gold one. By that I mean no criticism. The decision having been made by the ARU that we have foreign coahes, it would be churlish to attack a man of Deans' integrity. But it is appropriate to attack the principle under which he was appointed. The same arguments you correctly raise as to the state coach appointment seem to me to apply at a national level. Its all old hat now but in 3 years another appointment need be made. I hope its an Australian.
Wally James
Roar Guru
Spiro It would be interesting to know the terms of the petittion. If it was to have Mitchelll removed there is little chance that he will have a good influence on the team for the rest of the season. They don't want him. If the petition asks him to change his style, Mitchell will be walking on eggshells. He won't want to get on the teams bad side again. Either way it leaves a team and management in disharmony. If he departs this close to the start of the season the team is in disarray and, presumably, Mulvihill will be left to pick up the pieces. None of the alternatives bode well. As you say, the Force is not with John Mitchell. Perhaps the force is not with the Force. Wally James