The review blindside that cost Supercats leader his job
FORMER Geelong Supercats male head coach Leon O’Neill has spoken of his shock at being axed during a seemingly standard end-of-season review.
A former player at Geelong in the mid-’90s, O’Neill led the side for five seasons before he was ousted in September.
He said he was surprised when he sat down for the review with Geelong United chief executive Mark Neeld and members of the board.
“The purpose and tone of the meeting was really unexpected for me,” he said.
“I was under the impression we were reviewing with the purpose of moving forward.
“I had received no feedback to indicate there were any issues with what I’d done (in coaching).
“(Neeld’s) words were that there was consistent negative feedback from the playing group about my coaching style, my communication skills and my professionalism.
“The gist of it was he was unable to endorse my position as coach in 2020.”
O’Neill was called in to present to the same group again, after which he was told he wouldn’t be returning to the club for a sixth season in charge.
He said he spoke to players at the club and had not received any feedback that would indicate he was on the way out.
A clause in his contract meant the club was able to terminate his role with a month’s notice, which was given at the start of September.
Neeld said after the review, a decision was made to open the position to applicants.
When pressed by the Geelong Advertiser, he declined to answer why.
“Like all sporting organisations we had a review at the end of the year and we made a decision that that position was going to be opened up (to applicants),” he said.
Former Melbourne United assistant coach Justin Schueller was signed to a three-year deal by the club in the same month.
O’Neill, who played his first game for Geelong in 1996, said he chose to remain positive that changes within the organisation would work in the longterm. But he did question whether there was a cultural shift away from a familial atmosphere since the creation of Geelong United this year.
“I’m disappointed to have finished the way we have,” he said.
“I have to have faith and have to assume and really want to believe the club has done everything in the best interests of the club.
“The club has moved on, they’re heading in a newer and bolder direction and I really hope they are successful.
“We used to say, once you are part of the (Supercats) family, you stay in the family.
“The way they are operating now with the level of professionalism and everything else was coming in, I don’t know if business and family can mix like that. The Supercats I coached were definitely a family and that’s something that I’m very happy to hang on to and say I’ve contributed to.”
Neeld said the community feel had remained since the joining of Basketball Geelong and Corio Bay Stingrays created United earlier this year.
“I spent my first eight months in the job, 95 per cent of it has been working with two different boards and operational staff as to how we can work together as one,” he said.
“This is certainly a community organisation, it’s two community organisations being turned into one.”
O’Neill is currently coaching his son in a local under-12 side and said he would support the club next season.