ST KILDA president Peter Summers has refused to outline why senior coach Scott Watters was sacked, saying the reasons would remain confidential.
With the club drawing up a shortlist for Watters' replacement just two years after his appointment, Saints supporters were none the wiser on Friday afternoon as to why he was cut adrift.
Summers fronted the media shortly after 3:30pm at the club's Seaford base, but he dodged the key issues and would not be drawn on Watters' unapproved media appearance on Friday morning.
Asked why the coach had been sacked, he said: "We went through a review process. Out of that process there were a number of things identified that we needed to be very rigorous about, including our structures."
Asked what issues the review had uncovered, he said the club had met with Watters on Friday morning, but the reasons for his termination would "remain confidential between Scott and ourselves".
The St Kilda board met at 8am on Friday morning and Summers said Watters decision to speak on radio station SEN 10 minutes later – against club advice – was not a factor in the decision to sack him.
He also denied the coach's relationship with head of football Chris Pelchen or his players had been the reason for his dismissal.
However, outgoing chief executive Michael Nettlefold refused to clarify if captain Nick Riewoldt had been consulted over the decision.
"It's been portrayed as one versus the other, that's not the case," Summers said of the tension between Watters and Pelchen.
"They've worked together for the last period quite well.
"It's been a media story more than it's been a St Kilda story."
St Kilda lost respected assistant coach Dean Laidley on Thursday, while key fitness boss Bill Davoren has also departed for Collingwood.
Summers said the club's inability to hold onto crucial football department staff under Watters was discussed at Friday morning's board meeting but added: "I wouldn't overplay it".
While unable to articulate their reasons to supporters, the Saints' powerbrokers said their decision had been the result of a "significant and considered process".
Summers said the club was going through a period of change.
"We have had a tough few years," he said.
"While there has been a lot of on-field success, we faced the heartbreak of getting close three times without bringing home the ultimate prize.
"When I became president on 6 September, I received strong support of the board to make the changes necessary to see our cub into this new era.
"Some of those changes have already commenced and there will be more."
The Saints have set up a committee to find the club's next senior coach, but Summers said candidates were yet to be approached.
He would not publicly identify the club's targets or speak about traits the club's next coach would ideally have.
