West Coast Eagles board divided between Trevor Nisbett and Adam Simpson as club crisis deepens

There is a board split at the West Coast Eagles over whether coach Adam Simpson or chief executive Trevor Nisbett should depart the club as on-field issues reach crisis point. Sources have told The West Australian one camp want Simpson out, while the other is advocating for a managed end to Nisbett’s long-term future. It comes after shenanigans at the Eagles last night, with mixed messaging from the club over whether the coach needed a two-to-three month break at the end of the season. It is believed Simpson does not want a break and is willing to plough ahead at the end of the season. Sources say the information was leaked to the media in a strategic move to accelerate Simpson’s exit. A club spokesman released a statement on Wednesday night after the Simpson story was leaked. “Adam will coach out the remainder of the season,” the spokesman said. “He is up for the challenge and keen to improve and develop our players and game plan. “When our season ends he will be encouraged to take an extended break to refresh.” The club later put out a conflicting statement on their social media. “Reports that senior coach Adam Simpson has been asked to take a three-month break at the end of the season are inaccurate. No such discussion has taken place,” the report said. The contrasting statements from the club underline the division. It follows demands from Eagles fans who feel “disconnected” from their beloved club for a seat at the board table as West Coast languishes at the bottom of the AFL ladder for a second straight season. A number of administrators of the West Coast Eagles For Life fan forum, which has almost 9000 members, believe the time is right for fans to either cast a vote for the directors or have a seat on the board themselves. The eight Eagles board members are currently voted in by the the club’s owner, the West Australian Football Commission. The fans’ demand follows a long-running campaign by inaugural West Coast coach Ron Alexander for both West Coast and Fremantle members to have the power to elect their club boards. Leading property developer and West Coast foundation member Nigel Satterley last month urged the Eagles to “listen to their members”. Eagles chair Paul Fitzpatrick on Monday said the board was sticking with 2018 premiership coach Simpson, who is contracted to the end of 2025, in the face of an unprecedented run of injuries. He also said Nisbett was the right person to lead the club in dark times and they had made no decision on his future. Nisbett, who has been CEO since 1999, is tied to the club to the end of next year. Dual premiership player Glen Jakovich called for Simpson to move on after Sunday’s loss, while fellow West Coast great Peter Sumich and decorated VFL and WAFL player and former barrister and Eagles board member Brian Sierakowski have both called for an independent review of the club. Other luminaries, such as former WAFC and Eagles chair Murray McHenry, have called for a review of the club. McHenry said the current Eagles board should run the review. Former WA Football Commission chair and Eagles chaplain Neale Fong also reaffirmed calls for West Coast to launch a review into the club’s entire operations — including the board. Fong, who was a WAFC commissioner from 1999 to 2010 including eight years as the chair, backed Fitzpatrick to lead the investigation. He said that the WAFC should play no part in the review, instead it should be run by the board. WAFC chair Wayne Martin said the owners of the Eagles licence saw no reason to change the board.