The Gold Coast Suns have parted ways with head coach Stuart Dew, with the 43-year-old falling on his sword after yet another campaign filled with underwhelming results.
Dew, currently serving in his sixth season at Carrara, has been shown the door ahead of Gold Coast's Round 17 clash against St Kilda.
At present, the 6-7 Suns are currently sitting 13th on the ladder after being blown out of the water by stronger opposition in three of their past four outings.
Dew will drop the reins after 121 games as head coach, a 36-1-84 record and a 30.17 per cent win-rate.
In a club statement, Gold Coast Suns Chairman Bob East said the decision came down to the lack of on-field improvement.
“Last night the Gold Coast SUNS Board of Directors met, and it was determined that Stuart Dew would not continue in his role as Senior Coach,” East said.
“We feel we have a great opportunity to achieve success with this group but haven't seen the improvement we were after in 2023 and as a football club we must be prepared to make tough decisions, in that pursuit of success.
“Stuart has made a significant contribution to this football club, dedicating countless hours towards helping establish a platform from which our club can grow, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank him, his wife Sarah and family for the last six years.”
The club has confirmed assistant Steven King will take the reins as interim senior coach for the remainder of the 2023 season.
At a press conference with media on Tuesday alongside club CEO Mark Evans, East stated that the club had not been influenced by external factors in making the decision, which was decided unanimously by the Suns' board.
East said the club will commence a process to find the club's next senior coach after making the "necessary decision" to part ways with Dew.
"The board has instructed Mark to come back with the next steps in relation to identifying the next senior coach for the Gold Coast Suns football club," East said.
"I'll say that there is a clear gap between where we currently sit and where our expectations lie and the senior coach selection process will be solely designed to close that gap.
"One thing is clear. We are absolutely determined to make the next steps for this football club, the steps that bring us to the success this club so richly deserves.
"This is an evidence-based process in no way whatsoever have we been influenced by media, by social media, by speculation around who may or may not be available by the AFL, by the AFL industry at large. This is a process driven by a systematic process of evaluating what we need for this club.
"It is crystal clear to us that this decision was a necessary decision. And we will make the next steps meaningful to ensure that this club goes on for future success."
Dew now joins the likes of Guy McKenna and Rodney Eade on the Suns' coaching scrap heap, a heap that has begun to take shape since McKenna departed the Glitter Strip in 2014.
Dews' departure from the expansion club will only see speculation regarding Damien Hardwick's future ramp-up, with veteran scribe Caroline Wilson already linking Dew's premiership teammate with the now-vacant role.
Hardwick had previously thrown fuel on the flames, telling the Dyl & Friends Podcast in June that his passion for coaching had been reignited since departing his post at Punt Road.
“I'd be lying if I said I couldn't see myself doing it. I love it, I miss it. I've been out for two weeks and I wanted to miss it, if that makes sense?" Hardwick revealed.
“I need to decompress for a while, I need to go away, I need to reflect. And figure out things that make me good and things that I can sit there and put me in a dark place, as well.”
Evans has previously stated that he is yet to speak with Hardwick regarding the role. He reaffirmed that stance on Tuesday, with the club to enter an extensive approach to find their next coach.
"I want to deal with this bit properly," the Suns chief said.
"As Bob said, he's asked me to bring some thoughts back to the board and I'll do that in due course."
East added: "This has now allowed us to have some clear air to look at the next steps and that's a really important part of governance in any business to ensure that we set about a good process, a good system, good governance around the selection of pour next senior coach."
King's first game as interim coach will take place on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval against Adelaide.
