No outside issues in Freo call to sack Lyon

FREMANTLE says Ross Lyon’s papers were stamped in a recommendation by football boss Peter Bell but last year’s sexual harassment issues played no part.

Dockers chief executive Dale Alcock yesterday said the club would leave no stone unturned asking contracted and budding assistant coaches about the vacant position.

The Fremantle members and fans had lost such faith in Lyon the club believed nothing he did in 2020 would make him the long-term coach for the following season.

Fremantle reached a confidential settlement with a Dockers staffer who accused Lyon of making inappropriate comments, which came to light last year.

But Alcock told 3AW yesterday that furore might have affected the members’ perception of Lyon but played no part in last week’s sacking.

“None whatsoever. I came out publicly with Ross towards the end of that (episode) to draw a line under that. It was a most unfortunate circumstance where it played out publicly and there were confidentiality agreements behind the scenes.

“We supported Ross through that and I believe it was correct and there were no residual issues in our relationship.

“If you took one small item out of that, it could be that it was divisive among our members and supporters.

“It didn’t factor into the decision-making.”

Alcock made clear former board member Bell, now the GM of football, believed it was time for Lyon to go.

“Yes, this was something Peter and myself as president and other directors (did). The decision was jointly made. Clearly your GM of footy has to be on the same page.

“We arrived at that last Sunday and critically for us it was a decision where we weren’t prepared to renew him post-2020 and our view was we would be in a holding pattern.”