Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew walks off with the playing group.Credit:Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Speculation was rife last week that former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was heavily linked to replace Dew,leading to a press conference in which Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans denied links to the three-time premiership-winning mastermind and thrust his support behind Dew.
Despite the rapid turnaround,East disagreed it was a spur-of-the-moment decision,nor did he believe they had misled the club’s fan base,staff,roster or Dew himself.
“I don’t think it’s misleading. We have been consistent in our support of Stuart,but as any organisation should do,there should be a process of continual evaluation and continuous improvement,” East said.
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“It did crystallise over the weeks and months that there were gaps - I’m not about to unravel a public commentary or appraisal of performance - but it was very clear we needed to close the gap.
“Eventually there is a decision to be made,and you need to be true to all stakeholders by executing on that decision as well.
“I can be unequivocal in that we did support Stuart. Mark as recently as last week did the right thing by coming out and supporting Stuart.