Western Force coach John Mitchell denies player revolt

[travelling_gerry]

Nick Taylor
October 04, 2008 06:00pm


WESTERN Force coach John Mitchell has dismissed claims of a player revolt at the Super 14 club.
Speaking for the first time about claims players were unhappy with his coaching style, Mitchell said: "The situation, as far as I'm concerned, is all speculation.''

As he prepared for Monday's start of pre-season training, Mitchell said: ``Nothing has been tabled; nothing has been put to me. No issues of this kind have been raised with me.

"My door is always open for discussion and as far as I'm concerned, I'm concentrating on the 2009 campaign.''

However, it is understood issues were aired in frank one-to-one end-of-season interviews Mitchell had with all players.


the rest of articl from Nick Taylor at the Sunday Times is here.....

[laura]

Atleast somebody actually bothered to ask Coach Mitch what he had to say.
I think if any of them had/have a problem they would have the balls to talk to Mitch about it and they would have done it by now, therefore it was all hearsay, speculation, exaggerating and stirring.

[travelling_gerry]

, ergo it was all hearsay, speculation, exaggerating and stirring.

Ergo? Is he the new Italian winger?

[slomo]

Ergo? Is he the new Italian winger?

he's fast as gerry!

[laura]

ergo=therefore.

[AJL]

Who thinks Giteau will start the season for the force? And maybe a high profile management team member may not make it through the next month either? Inside track?

[shasta]

Who thinks Giteau will start the season for the force? And maybe a high profile management team member may not make it through the next month either? Inside track?

I reckon Giteau will start 2009 & nobody will be cut from the staff in the next month, OK? So humour us with the goss from the inside sauce.

[Thequeerone]

Who thinks Giteau will start the season for the force? And maybe a high profile management team member may not make it through the next month either? Inside track?

ooh ooh gossip/ rumours do tell - initials will do

PS Gits not starting would be so major surely it would be plastered all over the papers etc..

[James]

I wasn't aware Giteau not starting was even an option.

His problems are with his 3rd party deals not with the club. Since they are not technically allowed to facilitate these deals they aren't technically responsible for the implications of the break down. Whether they should do something morally is another issue. But surely he would do much more harm than good to his reputation if he was to bail out for the 2009 season.

Is it just my skepticism or does anyone else question why an issue like possible player unrest in the squad, mostly revolving around an end of season incident, wasn't dealt with then if it was in fact a problem? Why was it that it was pretty much brought up the day Johnny Mitch went off to do the Kokoda trail (which was bound to have him unable to comment for over a week and which was bound to be commonish knowledge)? Keeping it in the media as long as possible perhaps?

[slomo]

Who thinks Giteau will start the season for the force? And maybe a high profile management team member may not make it through the next month either? Inside track?

inside track youre having a laugh!!....giteau will start next season, and as for a high profile management team member not making it through next season thats a bit vague is it not?......

[Burgs]

The white goose steps across the cobbled footpath to play with the suited rabbit, mark my words.

[Flamethrower]

I know things that no one else knows.



Just thought I'd tell you all

[AJL]

OK, well we will all be watching this issue closely and if I am wrong you can all tell me to take a hike. If I am right then I may reveal the "sauce." And I suggested the management person would be gone within a month not before the season starts.

Personally I will be pretty upset if Gits goes as he has brought a level of flair and excitement most teams would be delighted to emulate.

[Swee_82]

Force find cash in attempt to keep Giteau

7th October 2008, 6:45 WST

Force find cash in attempt to keep Giteau

Western Force have found a sponsor to compensate Matt Giteau for the money he lost in the Firepower collapse – but the deal is likely to hinge on the Wallabies fly-half committing to the Perth Super 14 club until the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Failed fuel technology company Firepower helped lure Giteau to Perth from Canberra in 2007 for three seasons with a $750,000 a year incentive comprising $400,000 in cash and the balance in shares.

The shares are now worthless but Force has lined up replacement cash deals for Giteau and fellow Test stars Cameron Shepherd, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell and Scott Staniforth, who were also sponsored by Firepower.

PERTH
DAVE HUGHES

Website says the rest of the story is in The West

[shasta]

I know things that no one else knows.



Just thought I'd tell you all

Let me guess, FT. If you told us you'd have to kill us all, right?