Eagles forced into denial over ‘tired’, ‘anxious’ coach

West Coast has denied that it wants senior coach Adam Simpson to take a period of extended leave amid what has been a disastrous season for the club.

Simpson, the Eagles’ 2018 premiership coach, has come under tremendous pressure after seeing his side win just one of its first 10 games this season.

According to Eddie McGuire, the Eagles are still convinced Simpson is the man to lead them forward, but with a catch.

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“Tonight I can confirm to you that the West Coast Eagles want Adam Simpson to remain their coach,” he told Nine’s Footy Classified.

“What they will do is give Adam Simpson plenty of time because of the pressure he’s been under to have a think about what he wants to do.

“If he stays, they want him to take a three-month holiday with his family and just get out of town. That’ll be at the end of the season.

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“The quotes I heard today were, ‘He’s cooked’, ‘Needs time away’, ‘He’s a tired, anxious man at the moment’, because he has no levers to pull. He just can’t do anything at the moment.”

West Coast moved quickly to deny reports suggesting Simpson had been asked to take some time away to reassess his future.

“Reports that senior coach Adam Simpson has been asked to take a three-month break at the end of the season are inaccurate. No such discussion has taken place,” a club statement read on Wednesday night.

McGuire also claimed that the Eagles are poised to have “millions” in cap space over the coming seasons, putting the club in prime position to attract some free agents.

Simpson has previously stated that he is prepared to see the Eagles’ lengthy rebuild through. He is currently under contract through to the end of the 2025 season.

The 18th-placed Eagles will host Essendon at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

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