Adelaide sack Sanderson as coach
The Adelaide Crows have sacked Brenton Sanderson as coach of the AFL club.
Sanderson, who had coached Adelaide since 2012, was axed after a review of the club's football operations.
"Brenton is a quality person and accomplished coach but recent weeks have unearthed a need for change," Crows chairman Rob Chapman said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Both parties have realised they have different perspectives on where we are at as a footy team.
"It is a tough decision but one the club feels pushes us closer to realising our ambitions."
Sanderson took Adelaide to the finals in his first season but missed the play-offs in the past two years.
The 40-year-old initially signed a three-year contract to coach the Crows.
The deal was extended last December, tying him to Adelaide until the end of the 2016 season.
Crows players reportedly heavily criticised Sanderson and some of his assistant coaches in post-season interviews.
The surprise sacking comes just two days after the Crows appointed a new chief executive officer, former rugby union official Andrew Fagan.
Sando gone. Team underachieved this year .. Blew several chances to nail spot .. Top 8 list .. Brutal but club has to raise bar
— Mark Stevens (@Stevo7AFL) September 17, 2014
No point being hamstrung by incorrect, premature extensions ... If a coach is not man for job, he goes ..
— Mark Stevens (@Stevo7AFL) September 17, 2014
Disregard $$ . It is far more costly to go into a holding pattern .. Sando call puts blowtorch on silly trend of early, generous extensions
— Mark Stevens (@Stevo7AFL) September 17, 2014