Salogni tells of shock at sacking

INNISFAIL United’s former Premier men’s coach John Salogni has shared his side of the story after he ‘stood down’ last week, claiming he was unaware of any issues with his players. According to a Weekend

Post report last Saturday, club president Paulo Di Carlo said the club tried to work with Salogni but players didn’t want to play underneath him anymore.

In the report Di Carlo said the club feared losing talented young players who were not accepting Salogni’s management.

Salogni was gearing up for a round-27 clash against the Stratford Dolphins when he was called into a meeting at the Cutters clubhouse on Wednesday, July 24, where Di Carlo and club member Scott Davies asked Salogni to stand down as Premier men’s coach and offered him a junior development coaching role instead.

He insists that he did not voluntarily stand down.

“I did not quit, sorry; I was forced,” Salogni said.

“It wasn’t a recommendation to step down but more of a ‘this is the only way we can go’ (by changing coaches).”

Salogni said he had never received complaints about his coaching from players or staff and was shocked.

“They’re saying players don’t want to play underneath me anymore; heck I’m fine with that. If there’s a problem, let’s see if we can get something together, but don’t cut me off (at this point in the season). If someone comes up to you and says this isn’t working, the players aren’t happy, you get everyone together in a room and try to sort your differences out.

“So now they’ve set a precedent – next year if they bring in a good coach, let’s say he’s A League quality, if the players don’t like him … he’s gone too.

“Now I’ll never step foot here (Innisfail) or in Cairns again (as a football coach) because I’m a laughing stock.”

The former Cairns FC goalkeeping coach said it was unlikely he would accept the junior development role.

“Basically what they’re saying is I’m not good enough to coach the Premiers but I’m good enough to develop juniors, who will be Premier players one day.”

President Di Carlo said he admits the club’s players have a culture issue which was part of the reason for the change.

“His (on-field) coaching is good, the players don’t have any problems there.

“Some of the senior players weren’t happy with his people management and the way he was selecting teams.

“We’ve got a problem with players telling coaches what to do sometimes – ‘I don’t want to play there or do that’.”

Di Carlo said the club needed a coach the players would respond to, adding: “That’s why we went with (Adrian) Favero; he’s a familiar face, he knows the players and the players know him.”