The Courier Mail has the surprising news that Raiders’ coach David Furner is not a protected species after all:
A CRISIS Canberra board meeting has ended with David Furner offering his resignation as Raiders head coach.
Furner has been given the chance to resign with dignity after a nine-player revolt indicated they could no longer work with the coach.
“It’s obviously a results driven game and we have lost our last three game,” he siad. “It’s still terribly disappointing after all the work I’ve point in.”
Relations between the coach and leading players at the club, including much of the senior leader group, have deteriorated in recent weeks, coming to a head following the Raiders disappointing loss to Canterbury on Saturday afternoon.
It is understood the players held a private meeting last night where it was decided they could no longer believe they can work with Furner.
It was the second gathering of players in days.
UPDATE: The Club’s statement is now online:
Raiders board decision on Coach David Furner
The Canberra Raiders Board of Directors has made a decision on the future of the clubs Head Coaching role, deciding to terminate the contract of Raiders Coach David Furner effective immediately.
The board made the tough decision feeling the team’s inconsistent performances were not reflective of the talent within the squad and have decided to pursue a different direction for the future of the club.
The board noted the wonderful service over many years that David Furner has made to the club from his days as a player and more recently a coach and said he will leave his tenure at the club as one of the Raiders most loyal and respected figures.
They noted the difficulty in the decision and said it was one of the saddest days in the clubs history.
Andrew Dunemann will take over as Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the 2013 season.
The board will take the time necessary to appoint the best Head Coach for the club.