Ernie Merrick has come out swinging at the treatment of sacked St Kilda coach Brett Ratten, calling it “one of the worst I’ve seen.”
The two-time A-League championship winner had a part-time role at the Saints as a mentor for Ratten, and spoke on SEN’s Whateley on Thursday morning about last week’s sacking – just three months after signing a two-year extension.
“Sometimes I think board members consider that (Ratten’s style) as being soft. I consider it modern coaching – and his results really prove that. And despite what‘s been said, which amazes me, I think his results have been on track,” said Merrick on the show.
He agreed when asked if it was an inappropriate way by St Kilda to treat an employee, adding, “It‘s quite disgraceful, really. It’s demeaning, it’s not called for.
“The difference is Geelong had Frank Costa in support of Bomber Thompson and Richmond had Peggy O’Neal in support of Damien Hardwick – and to me, the board‘s got a lot to answer for at St Kilda.”
Merrick added he was “one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with”, and that he “observed a very, very good coach” who had “excellent relationship skills, who led through gaining respect through his leadership and his personality without instilling fear of failure and fear through being an authoritarian”.
Ernie Merrick (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
“I was shocked because his (Ratten’s) new contract had been signed roughly three months earlier. The chairman spoke very highly of him – and that all changes in half a season. I can‘t understand how you can judge a person in half a season, especially with the injuries that he had … and yet he still managed to have 11 wins, 10 wins and 11 wins in his three seasons. And that last season, he was so close to getting in the finals
“So with an average of 11 wins a season for the first three years and the building of players and up and coming youngsters … he was doing everything right. I just don‘t think he had enough experience in his squad to go much further.
“The difference is in soccer when you‘re sacked from the English Premier League, you walk away with $20 million and six months of salary.”
“I’ve been in coaching for a while since the ‘70s. You win a game, you go in the changeroom, everybody‘s happy, everyone’s supporting you. As soon as you lose a couple of games, no one wants to know you. You don’t get the same characters in support of you – and they’re the ones that you can soon tell are ready to jump ship quickly.
“I have to say I was initially very impressed by the board, but the board made the decision. It‘s not the CEO that made the decision, so it all comes down to the board.
“The whole behaviour and the way things were handled and who handled them is, is really very, very disappointing.”
Merrick admitted chief executive Simon Lethlean and president Andrew Bassat had interviewed him the day before Ratten was dismissed from his position. He said he felt the decision had already been made before that meeting.
“The CEO, I thought, was very fair and honest … but I‘m afraid from Andrew Bassat, I felt as though the decision was already made. And I was so disappointed,” Merrick said. “Whatever argument was presented to me for removing the coach, I countered.
“This is a results-driven business that we‘re in and these team sports in particular, you have to co-ordinate a group of players to perform and win games and improve week-in, week-out. But it’s really not performance-related. It’s usually someone makes a fairly tough call, often without the expertise and knowledge behind them, I would say.”
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“I‘d like to know who made the decision to play a game in Cairns, which they lost by a point. I mean, that 12th win would probably have guaranteed a finals position, but it’s out of the hands of the coach. List management is out of the hands of the coach. You can pass on advice, but you can’t go out and get the players yourself, you’ve got different departments doing that.
“In my opinion, St Kilda aren’t going to have success until they stabilise the whole club from top to bottom. To me they were stable, they’ve stuffed it around and I don’t know what’ll happen now.”
Clear as mud
Guest
making finals then going backwards is always an alarm bell, as it was with hardwick (probably 2014 as uch for me as 2016). you can't really argue that the list isn't good enough, how else did you win a final in 2020? missing two years in a row... uh oh!
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
That's 'you're'.
Ace
Roar Rookie
I have to agree. Your not important
Brandon Hutchinson
Roar Pro
It's becoming too familiar a tune these days. All these coaches being stuffed about by upper poor management. I think a few external reviews are needed around the league personally.
Macca
Roar Rookie
But 2020 wasn’t Ratten’s baseline, when he took over they were 3rd last and just half a game ahead of the Suns.
Tez
Roar Rookie
Yeah well, say what you will about Ratten, and personally I think he is a pretty good coach, but bottom line he has been sacked so move on.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Yes, but I’m not pretending to be important, unlike your Football Chief Officer hero.
Willow
Roar Rookie
A multi-million dollar enterprise won't function efficiently without strong and decisive leadership. Is the re-appointment of Lyon the way to go? He walked out on the club over 10 years ago to take over as senior coach at Fremantle. However, there was a hurdle. Mark Harvey was still the senior coach of The Dockers at the time. Thank f@#ck he (Lyon), wasn't given the job at Carlton.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Much like yourself Doc
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Lyon will secure good payment and he gets to be in the headlines each week. That's what he likes best. Of course, a flag would be nice. As I saw it St Kilda like Essendon looked capable but didn't turn up for awhile and then the confidence went. Their results fell away which is always galling to supporters. But it does happen to every team that misses the 8. Everyone wants the latest super coach but they ain't there. Saints will keep on performing like their board. Abysmally. The new coach knows already they can't be trusted which they have proved.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
The only thing the Saints did wrong here was re-contract Rattan, but I completely understand why they have, they're stuck in the mid table. Ross will sort them out, I'm pretty convinced of that
Joseph Fitzpatrick
Guest
Interesting to note that the three great 'dynasties' of the modern era - Geelong, Hawthorn and Richmond - have one thing in common: - the clubs, after much soul-searching, stood by their coach and broke through for a premiership the next year.
christy olsen
Roar Rookie
There's a lot to debate/discuss in this whole situation. 1. Was Ratten really doing that badly? Probably a 'no' for most. 2. Why fire a fair-to-middling coach without having a proven master lined up? Seems foolish. 3. Does StK's list have the potential to be a top four finisher? Doesn't really seem so. 4. If the list is lacking, will Lyon be able to change things? His CV indicates he won't. 5. Why is Lethlean not accountable for the state of the list? He should be. 6. What about Matt Finnis? Here's where it gets interesting. Finnis was distracted by non-football, social endeavours throughout his time at StK. I'm here to tell you as a member, those who care about winning don't care much about all that PR fluff. Playing games in China or Cairns? It wouldn't surprise me if Finnis was behind that. There are lot of other things I won't mention specifically, and it seems clear Finnis' vision for the club was not focused on winning a flag. But how does that relate to winning? Finnis may have been the primary advocate for Ratten all along. I have a feeling Lethlean and Bassat never really backed Ratts at all, and may have opposed his contract extension. Once Finnis was out of the way, it looks to me like there was no one left to protect Ratten from being fired, despite his contract. Did Finnis get involved with list management or other aspects of football operations? Hard to say, but if so, that may be why Bassat and Lethlean think they are now qualified to fire the coach and lead the club in a new direction. Time will tell.
christy olsen
Roar Rookie
"through sheer force (strength) of will" :happy:
PeteB
Roar Rookie
So Ratts game plan revolved around an ageing injury prone 34 year old ruck. And without one player the rest of the team basically gave up. Says it all really.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Good points from someone close to the action. That one point loss turns out to being the difference between a sacking or keeping your job. Harsh.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Not that many....but did see when Saints buried Carlton mid to late year. Maybe it is a big ocean after all.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Did you watch any of the Saints performances post Round 11 ? I’m guessing you didn’t if you can’t see the difference.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Talk about a moment of clarity after the Dees gave your lads a hiding, Scott proposed to leave only for your leaders to stick by him. ‘Fortune favours the prepared mind’ :stoked:
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Ratten should have followed the Blues formula then, just needed to spend another 20 years there and get handed a heap of give me high draft picks and he'd be sweet. Which ocean you talking about in the difference between 4-7 and 3-8? Reckon I could backstroke across that one.