Another assistant coach has quit the Matildas in the wake of Alen Stajcic being sacked as head coach.
Paul Jones has resigned as the Matildas’ goalkeeping coach, the second assistant to quit after Stajcic was suddenly axed last Saturday.
Jones joins assistant coach Nahuel Arrarte in departing the Matildas this week.
The resignation of Jones, who was brought back into the Matildas program in 2014 by Stajcic, comes amid a fresh appeal to Football Federation Australia (FFA) for an inquiry into the controversial removal of Stajcic.
The Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC) has written to the FFA Congress, saying AAFC member clubs are “dismayed” at the manner of Stajcic’s dismissal.
The FFA has repeatedly refused to details specific reasons for the removal of Stajcic, which came after two surveys.
Stajcic has sought legal advice after being dumped as coach of the world No.6 Matildas after surveys by the Professional Footballers Association and Our Watch, an organisation that tackles abuse and violence against women.
FFA chief David Gallop has cited confidentiality agreements when refusing to divulge specific reasons for Stajcic’s sacking.
But AAFC chairman Rabieh Krayem urged the FFA congress to investigate because there had been no “proper reason” given for Stajcic’s removal.
“We cannot comment on the decision taken to dismiss Mr Stajcic, not least because the members of the football community have not been offered a proper reason,” Krayem wrote in his letter to FFA.
“However, we can comment on the way in which it was done, the lack of transparency around the decision, the abysmal communication around it.”
The FFA congress should “exercise their responsibility to protect the reputation of football” by investigating, Krayem wrote.
“You put the current board in place, you must now act on behalf of the football community to insist on a proper independent investigation of the issues,” he wrote.
“Not just related to the dismissal of Mr Stajcic but the broader issues implicit in his dismissal concerning the management and operations of the women’s game in Australia.”
FFA on Thursday announced a four-person panel had been formed to hunt for a successor to Stajcic.
The panel – FFA’s national teams’ boss Luke Casserly, ex-Matilda Julie Murray, Australian women’s cricket coach Matthew Mott and AIS executive Darlene Harrison – will make a recommendation to the FFA board.
FFA hope the new coach can take charge in time for the Cup of Nations tournament beginning in Sydney on February 28.
© AAP
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