‘No one knows our list better’: Eagles board ‘unanimously’ back Simmo to stay as coach

Adam Simpson will remain on as coach of West Coast, after being “unanimously” endorsed by the club’s board on Monday.

Simpson has come under a mountain of pressure in recent weeks with rumours of his tenure being cut short growing week-by-week as the club sunk to its worst-ever wooden spoon finish.

But on Monday, Eagles chairman Paul Fitzpatrick confirmed their 2018 premiership coach was the right man to lead the club moving forward.

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“At the meeting today the Board unanimously agreed that Adam will remain as senior coach,” Fitzpatrick said.

“No one knows our playing list better than Adam and he has already steered us through the first phase of the rebuild. We are confident he can take us forward and take us where we aspire to be.

“Our season came to an end on Saturday night and we finished at the foot of the premiership table. That does not sit well with anyone at the club and we are all aware that there is much work to be done to return as a force in the competition.

“Some of the work that is required to improve has already started and it will continue in the off-season and through the pre-season. We know we need to be better across all aspects in the football program.

“We will again go to the draft where we currently hold the first selection and we will look to bring in some elite youngsters with that and other selections.

“We are also open to bringing in players through the trade period who fit our needs and list profile.

“Adam is central to our development plans to assist the club’s rise up the ladder.”

Players including Jamie Cripps and Liam Duggan have publicly thrown their support behind Simpson, who is contracted until the end of 2025, to stay on.

But again on Saturday Simpson was forced to bat away questions on his future as the club farewelled retiring trio Luke Shuey, Shannon Hurn and Nic Naitanui.

It took just six minutes into the post-match press conference for the first question to come about Simpson’s future.

“You can’t ask him that question, seriously,” Simpson said when Shuey was asked if he approved of the massive fan support the coach received during the loss to Adelaide and if he wanted to see him stay on.

“We’ll talk Monday – but there’s no press conference so we won’t be talking.

“We’ll work through it.

“From here on, I’m not sure what happens. I’m contracted so we’ll see how it plays out.”

Simpson was forced to endure weekly questions and speculation on his future at the club late in the season, but always maintained his focus remained on the playing group and how to move the club forward.

The Eagles endured a horror 2023 campaign on the back of a mountain of injuries, illness and form woes, finishing with a club worst two victories – and five 100+ point beltings to their name.