Departing AFL Coaches Association boss Mark Brayshaw has lashed out at the AFL for a "shameful" new ruling that he believes allows club boards to sack senior coaches with little-to-no consequence.
AFL-funded clubs are permitted to attach a six-month settlement to newly signed coaching contracts, a move that was seen to aid clubs in avoiding large payout fees to sacked senior coaches when it was introduced in 2019.
Speaking toย SEN SA Breakfast,ย Brayshaw stated the clause removes trust between "moron boards" and their coaches.
โDisgraceful. Disgraceful clause. Weโre not a union, we donโt have a CBA like the players do. Iโll tell you how it gets through: the AFL says โweโre sick of stupid boards, moron boards sacking their coaches and paying them outโ,โ Brayshaw told SEN.
โI used to be on the board at North Melbourne for eight years, I have absolutely no sympathy whatsoever for any board that extends a contract with its coach and then changes its mind and expects to give them a six month contract.
โThe good clubs donโt do that, the big clubs that donโt need the AFLโs money as much donโt allow that to happen and I think itโs shameful.
"The good clubs have got trust, theyโre built on trust.
โIf you say to your coach โthe good news is weโre going to sign you for three years but by the way in the fine print if we change our mind we can give you the flick with a six month payout periodโ, that is not trust.
โI think itโs a disgrace and itโs the AFL supporting incompetent boards who recklessly extend their coaches and I have no sympathy for them.โ
Brayshaw announced his departure from the AFLCA chief executive position on Wednesday, a role he has held for the past six years.
