The Western Force have shown coach Michael Foley the door following a number of disappointing seasons with the Super Rugby outfit.
Foley was contracted until the end of the 2017 season, but it was agreed with the club that he would not fulfil the final year of the deal.
“Michael is a fine coach and has done a good job in his four years with the team considering some of the obvious challenges he’s faced,” said RugbyWA CEO Mark Sinderberry.
“With the team out of contention for finals, it was appropriate timing for both parties to look to the future and that’s why we have agreed to part ways.
“We wish Michael all the best for the future and will commence a process together with the ARU to appoint a new Head Coach for the 2017 season.”
After last season’s dismal performance, which saw the Perth-based club handed the wooden spoon on the back of just three wins for the year, the Force are currently rooted to the bottom of the Australian conference with two wins, one of which came against the Queensland Reds during their poor start to the season.
The Force have scored just 21 tries from their 12 games this season, fewer than any other in Super Rugby.
The poor on-field performances have been compounded by off-field issues, with the ARU recently announcing an alliance with the club in order to help boost the Force’s dwindling financial position.
Since joining the Force in late 2012, Foley has been unable to lure high-profile players out West, instead presiding over an exodus from some of the club’s best players, a number of whom decided to leave the club earlier this year.
The club’s players were called to a meeting on Thursday to inform them of the decision, with the search for a new coach to being immediately. Foley’s assistant David Wessels is set to coach the Force on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2016 season.
Prior to signing with the Force, Foley had been at the helm of the Waratahs during their worst year in Super Rugby history, a season which saw them finish with eight consecutive losses before missing the finals.
AndrewWA
Guest
@kingplaymaker Michael Foley NOT being an "excellent assistant coach" must be the reason why Cheika wanted him as Forwards Coach for the Wallabies in 2015.
Jerry
Guest
Ah - no, they count towards squad limits. They're treated the same as an NZ player essentially which makes sense given many of them are NZ players when first selected (e.g, an NZ born player is selected for a Super Rugby squad, then capped by Fiji/Samoa/Tonga).
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Very generous comment K-K :)
DJW
Guest
Did reak of the ARU trying to look after Foley. Doesn't say a lot for a clubs ambitions hiring a competitors coach who has just been sacked for poor performance. The Force surely can't be surprised with the outcome. Unless there were no other candidates it was a very poor decision or one that the ARU put the hard word on them to do.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
More what I was getting that is are PI players in NZ like Japanese players in Aus where they are not part of your squad limit, so they in fact are an extra player.
AndyS
Guest
...to die a slow and drawn out death by irrelevance, having less of a national presence than even baseball or basketball.
AndyS
Guest
Agree they didn't hire him simply because of his playing background, but we'll never really know how he got selected as the Force didn't seem to follow any more process than they did with Graham. The Force carried out an endlessly extensive search before finally flying their preferred option over for an interview. He then nipped over to Sydney and somehow the end result was that he was coaching the 'Tahs and the Force got there old coach, despite him never seeming to have been part of the process. Always wondered what happened behind the scenes there...
Jerry
Guest
The policy hasn't changed, but I suspect it's had more of an impact as public awareness of it has increased over the last decade. It's only in the last year or so that there's been net migration with Australia. PI players are treated the same as NZ players in squad limits. They don't count as an overseas player, nor is the franchise required to prove there isn't no similarly qualified/capable NZ player available.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So a policy that has not changed has had an impact on a change in a trend? There has been net migration for the last few years. There's also been significantly large projects with skills shortages the last few years. It's no surprise that if people leave a country for better overseas wages, they would return when wages are better. Would a PI player be treated the same in the squad as an English player though (i.e. both would count to squad limits)? Obviously the salary is a factor, but the willingness to sign would not be impacted if they both have the same implications to the squad size.
Jerry
Guest
1 - I don't know the trends behind migration, but there has been net migration for the last few years. If I had to guess, I'd say that Australia's policies towards NZers have had a fairly significant impact. 2 - Most of those PI capped players were born, grew up or lived in NZ previously so they're not really signed from overseas. 3 - Also, there are actually restrictions on when franchises can sign overseas players which don't apply to PI capped players. 4 - NZ doesn't attract many established players from overseas cause they'd be taking a huge pay cut, not cause of overall quality of life. You don't make anything comparable to overseas club wages in NZ unless you're in the AB's.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nick Stiles. Not certain he's ready though.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
And how much of that is related to a spike in jobs through Christchurch rebuild, etc. that has resulted in NZ born people returning home? How many international coaches have come to NZ to coach? In fact how many foreign born coaches in general? Part of that is as I said, lack of demand, so no need to compete financially. But it's the same for players as well. NZ has no problem with overseas players. Their teams are full of PI capped players, so it's not an unwillingness to sign non-NZ players to the franchises. But how many other than James Haskall are example of players who come there to ply their trade from other countries with strong competitions? It's certainly not because of the quality of the rugby isn't good enough.
Jerry
Guest
True.
John R
Roar Guru
Yes, that would have been true 4 years ago. But net migration has been trending up for a fair while in NZ now. Historically though, and over the long term, the sentiment has merit
John R
Roar Guru
And they can write it back whenever they want if the payout doesn't occur
Jerry
Guest
"a place more people leave than vice versa" Not actually true.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
They hired Foley because after his time in the UK, at the Wallabies and Waratahs he was perceived to be a good assistant coach. That may be wrong but it was hardly because he was an ex wallaby. What you said would be a fair description of Larkham's appointment at the Brumbies though.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Besides, it's a bit of a moot point to this discussion anyway. Nadolo went to France in 2010. Foley's first head coach appointment was 2011. Despite KPM's insistence, he never had Nadolo under his nose, because he left Australia before Foley took over as head coach.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yes he was. He even admitted. As you said, the crusaders quickly got it out of him, just a short 6 years and 4 teams later...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How the ARU treated White? By not employing him for the wallabies job? Wasn't aware they were obligated to. Any coach who has aspirations of coaching at the highest level will certainly consider it as super rugby is considered the top provincial competition and there are only so many head coach roles available. Australia is the most desirable location to live so that is another attraction.