Portarlington has sacked coach Darren Findlay just seven matches into a three-year contract.
Demons president Steve Cogger has confimed the club parted company with Findlay on Thursday.
“The alignment between the club and the coach, with the pathway that Portarlington Football Netball Club is on, differed,” Cogger said of the decision.
“And we weren’t able to get our alignment back together and we’ve spent time getting our pathway in place, and we’re probably only 50% through it.
“So we needed to make take some action to get it back on the pathway, and that was the way we could we could only see it get it coming back to our way.”
“It’s difficult, and I don’t feel good about it, but I know it’s the best thing for the club.”
A premiership player with Anglesea, Findlay joined the Demons with an extensive coaching resume, including time with VFL clubs Port Melbourne and Werribee, and premiership success at Point Cook Centrals in the Western Region.
After suffering a 55-point loss to Barwon Heads in the opening round, Portarlington recorded consecutive wins against Ocean Grove and Newcomb to climb into the top five.
A disappointing loss to Drysdale on Anzac Day was followed by a competitive performance against two-time reigning premier Torquay and a four-point defeat by grand finalists Anglesea.
With injuries to several key players, the Demons were on the end of a 102-point hiding by Queenscliff last week.
Findlay, who politely declined to comment at length until early next week, says he and several players were “blindsided” by the decision.
Injured captain Mitch Turnbull will take the reins for tomorrow’s clash with ladder-lader Geelong Amateur at Portarlington Recreation Reserve.
X: @krockfootball
